XPost: rec.arts.sf.science, sci.space.policy   
   From: cosmicpam2@comcast.net   
      
   You can do the same thing by just building a big merry-go-round type   
   device.  Actually, it would be a truncated cone spun about its axis.   
      
   Once you get it spinning, there would be no need to worry about adding   
   energy, except maybe a small amount to overcome a little bearing   
   friction.   
      
      
   Ray   
      
      
      
   "WLM"  wrote in message   
   news:1107964272.784304.127960@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...   
   > I'm wondering if this idea has occurred anywhere else:   
   >   
   > If humans need a full one Earth gravity after all, a lunar   
   > settlement could provide that, at least part of the time.  Build a   
   > circular track on the surface, with a radius of 1 km. and tilted.   
   > Then have cars travel around the track at the appropriate speed, and   
   > one has full Earth gravity on the Moon.   
   >   
   > There will be no atmospheric drag, so no energy is required to keep   
   > the cars going due to this.  During the lunar day, photovoltaics on   
   > top of the cars could provide the energy to keep them going. During   
   > the lunar night, temperatures are low enough that they could be   
   > levitated on superconducting magnets.   
   >   
   > An alternative way to building a track would be to have a tower with   
   > the cars travelling around, suspended by wires (two at opposite   
   > ends).  This could be cheaper to build than a track.   
   >   
   > These could be built on all the other planet-like bodies, too.   
   > Possibly including Mars...its atmosphere might be thin enough.   
   >   
      
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