Re: Just thinking crazy I guess :)


"Spaceman" <Realspace@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well, depending on how long it would stay trapped, I would gather it
would make the tube slightly "lighter" and in turn may be
able to make tiny machines made lighter so less
energy would be needed to run them in the long run depending on if
they actually would make a difference to the weight of the nanotubes
themselves.
(I also think about vacuum "filled" nanotubes).
And I was also wondering about "floating in air of course too."
(the floating is the crazy part I am think I guess.)

Airships and balloons have certain properties and problems that exist that
are generally independent of the scale or material used. The following
books cover these issues and some of their solutions. I highly recommend
them if you wish to learn more about making things float in a controlled
manner:

"The Airship" by Christopher Sprigg, 1931. This book is available as a
reprint and is a nice non-mathematical introduction to some of the non-
obvious problems that have to be solved. Contains some interesting airship
history too.

"Ballooning" by Anthony Smith and Mark Wagner, 1998. A non-mathematical
introduction to some of the physics, modern history, and joy of ballooning
- with wonderful photos to boot.

"Balloon Flying Handbook" published by the FAA and available online:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/media/faa-h-8083-11.pdf

"Dr. Eckener's Dream Machine" by Douglas Botting, 2001. Okay, this is
drifting so far outside nanotech and your original topic, but I think it is
a "good read" about the history and amazing feats of the Zeppelin airships.

"Airship Design" by Charles P. Burgess, 1927. Another reprint - but
definitely requires training in math through basic calculus as well as
strength of materials. The last chapter, "Common Airship Fallacies"
addresses the often repeated "vacuum airship" invention and provides a
mathematical treatment that gives you an idea of how much strength is
needed to build one.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Just thinking crazy I guess :)
    ... would make the tube slightly "lighter" and in turn may be ... "The Airship" by Christopher Sprigg, ... "Ballooning" by Anthony Smith and Mark Wagner, ... but it does seems and the vacuum airship back then would ...
    (sci.nanotech)
  • Re: Armored Airships Challenge
    ... >lighter than air airship... ... What's the largest caliber gun you can protect against? ... lighter and even stronger cthan woven Kevlar or Spectra. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
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