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> Start with the winch. It's reeling in the object at the other end of the
> cable. In my mind the winch would also reel it's self in, so that it and
> the object would meet in the middle. If it had thrusters, in this case
> aimed towards the object, could it maintain it's position if it supplied
> thrust which was equal in energy to the pulling of the cable? Disregard
> fuel use etc.. Imagine that the thrusters could maintain a constant rate
> throughout the reeling process.
it's all relative isn't it. you could set up a thruster system to ensure
that your anchor point wouldn't move, relatively.
> So now think about the smaller pulleys that are spaced out along the cable.
> In order for them to maintain the precise zig zag pattern (this is crucial)
> they would need thrusters too. I imagine if they didn't have them the winch
> and object would eventually pull the length of the cable straight.
yes, again, this is possible the key here is that you zig zag points stay
the required distance apart.
> Imagine for a moment that this is possible. The small pulleys would
> disengage and shoot away (or explode perhaps) from the cable just before the
> object hit them. This would correct the course of the object. ex: It was
> going left, now it's going up and to the right, on its way to the next
> pulley.
this entire arrangement is possible, perhaps even doable. but not entirely
practical. given the amount of thrusters that you would need to set up
this movement pattern it would be more efficient to apply these thrusters
to the object you wish to move, I would think.
I guess it all depends on the nature of your anchor point. if it is just
an arbitrary point then put the thrusters on the object. if the anchor is
a big freighter ship then maybe a winch system is doable.
There is a whole heap of relative masses to consider, force distributions
etc....
it is possible, just not that efficient
Trav (-|-)
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | A space physics question
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| Imagine a winch pulling a rope or cable through a series of pulleys (horizontal) that are staked to the ground. The pulleys are arranged so that the rope makes a zig zag pattern on the ground. There is an object at one end of the cable, being reeled (...) (22 years ago, 28-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek, lugnet.space)
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