Electric Kite "Propulsion" Proposal

Please see the diagram here: http://gaia.ecs.csus.edu/~schlangw/kite.jpg
Now here is my question. I know it won't work, I just want to know WHY
it won't work.
Referring to the diagram, we begin with an energy storage device in
the center. That device charges up A, C, D to +q and charges up B to -
q. The charging up is done almost instantly. There will be internal
forces, but no external force. We assume the internal coulomb forces
are balanced mechanically e.g. the device doesn't deform.

Now what happens if a very, very, very precise switch, previously
open, is closed instantly, allowing electrons to flow from B up to the
center and allowing electrons from the center to flow up to A? The
result is A becomes neutral and B becomes neutral. We imagine a really
fast switching device that allows A to become totally neutral in
3.3x10^-9 seconds. This is possible because the speed of light is
299792458 m/s and the electrons have to flow 1 m to get to the center
from the bottom and at the same time, to get from the center to the
top. 1/299792458=3.3x10^-9. So that is possible.

Now for my question. Based on the geometry of the kite,if only 3.3 ns
has passed, will C have knowledge yet that A has been discharged? I
mean information about electric fields propagates at the speed of
light, right? So C will have knowledge of A being partially discharged
perhaps, but not entirely. A on the other hand will be discharging,
but will have knowledge of B (which stays steady together with D).

So will there be a net force down on C and D? If not, why not?

My question is basically, does Newton's third law really work? I tried
to find a counterexample allowing the center of mass to be
accelerated. I understand this will, if it works, increase kinetic
energy and, to make the system work, there must be a reaction medium.
By measuring the force we "might" be able to calculate the energy
going into this reaction medium, whatever it may be. Or perhaps the
experiment is going to be too hard to carry out in practice?

Does anyone out there know whether a switch exists that can go from
"totally open" to "totally closed" in way under 3.3 ns?

Now suppose +q at A falls to 0 after 3.3 ns. Then C will still be
attracted towards A, because it has no knowledge about the discharge
yet. Information can propagate only at the speed of light. If the
charge moved in a lump, down from C at 299792458 m/s, then after 3.3
ns it will be in the center (where it is neutralized with a negative
charge). But the length of line segment AC is 1.4142 m. Won't C and D
have a residual force, in the downward direction, that is not
countered by A and B?

Here is another question. Suppose I have a capacitor without a
dielectric, just free space, with a displacement current between the
plates (say it is charging or discharging, so there is a displacement
current). Now suppose I have a perpendicular, steady magnetic field.
Won't the displacement current be deflected (F=qVxB) by the magnetic
field, causing a net force on the magnet? Again we know this is
impossible -- almost. Here, we have an oscillating electric field and
a magnetic field at right angles. It looks like even if we hold the
magnetic field constant, an electromagnetic wave will by synthesized
at right angles to the changing E field and (static) B field.

This EM wave will carry away momentum, so there CAN be net force on a
capacitor whose displacement current is deflected by a magnetic field!
We know it works if there's a plasma between the capacitor; then, as
the charged particles move right and the electrons move left due to
the electric field, the perpendicular magnetic field converts this
motion to orthogonal motion, causing net thrust on the magnets. It
will certainly work with the magnetic field and electric field
oscillating too. But if there is no plasma, what exactly is happening?

It looks as if we will get thrust "propellantlessly" but you won't
like the efficiency, since photons carry away P=E/c momentum we don't
get much thrust. Scattering the photons on an opaque plasma will not
help (right?)

But what about the first proposal, the electric kite idea? If A
discharges VERY RAPIDLY towards the center as does B, then 3.3 ns
later won't C have delayed information about the location of the
charges? Thus won't there be a net force on C and D, downwards?

I really have no idea, maybe an expert out there will shed some light
on these ideas.
.

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