zero-point energy?

what do we know abou it?
I’ve even seen machines in the web. is it possible?

You mean other than the fact that Syndrome used it to toss the Incredibles around? Here, let Wiki explain it:

"In physics, the zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may possess; it is the energy of the ground state of the system. All quantum mechanical systems have a zero point energy. The term arises commonly in reference to the ground state of the quantum harmonic oscillator and its null oscillations. In quantum field theory, it is a synonym for the vacuum energy, an amount of energy associated with the vacuum of empty space. In cosmology, the vacuum energy is taken to be the origin of the cosmological constant. Experimentally, the zero-point energy of the vacuum leads directly to the Casimir effect, and is directly observable in nanoscale devices.

Because zero point energy is the lowest possible energy a system can have, this energy cannot be removed from the system.

Despite the definition, the concept of zero-point energy, and the hint of a possibility of extracting "free energy" from the vacuum, has attracted the attention of amateur inventors. Numerous perpetual motion and other pseudoscientific devices, often called free energy devices, exploiting the idea, have been proposed. As a result of this activity, and its intriguing theoretical explanation, it has taken on a life of its own in popular culture, appearing in science fiction books, games and movies" [See source.]

So you see, it’s the stuff that scifi (like the Incredibles) is made of.

One of the effects I’ve personally conjured up is what I call the "null universe." This is the unobservable universe lying outside our own, observable universe.

I call it the null universe because it lacks even zero point energy. Since our universe has an energy level above that of the null universe, work is being done on our universe. This conclusion stems from W = Fd, which is the classic equation for work; where W is the zero point energy of our known universe and it is moving our universe some d distance with a force of F.

Since we know that F = Ma; where M is the mass of the known universe, we see that the universe must have some acceleration (a) since it has at least zero point energy. This follows from W = Mad and W/Md = a. There is no energy in the null universe; so there is nothing opposing the W from our universe. Acceleration of the expansion of our universe has been measured, it exists and is consistent with my null universe hypothesis.

Is wind power generator at home really work ?

I heard about wind power generator and I want to make a wind power generator to power things in my house. Although I am not sure where to find good information. I want to save money. Is there any reliable information on how to make wind power generator at home?

I made mine wind power generator and its saving me some good money I use it to power various things inside and outside my house. I found the best source of info for this at:

http://retirerichguide.com/WindGenerator.html

Good luck

How much less solar energy is received at 60 degrees latitude than that received at the Equator?

How much less solar energy is received at 60 degrees latitude than that received at the Equator?

At 60 degrees latitude (north or south), and averaged over a year, the solar energy level is about 50% to 55% of the level at the equator. That’s not counting the effects of clouds.

A lot of the thermal energy at high latitudes comes in on wind and water movement; I guess you could say that is also a very indirect solar energy.

What would a motor made with only permanent magnets be potentially worth?

A motor made only with permanent magnets only would lead to a re-write of the laws of thermodynamics, as it would be a perpetual motion machine. It would solve all the world’s energy problems, and the person who invented it would become the richest and most famous inventor ever.
Many have tried to create such a motor, some have claimed to succeed, but as far as I am aware none have withstood scrutiny without being exposed as frauds.

can a dc motor run completely on permanent magnets?

a dc motor has magnets around the outside and an electromagnetic rotor in the centre, im confused as to why cant permanent magnets be used in stead of the electro copper rotor for free energy?

Imagine the permanent magnent motor you describe in your question aligned on a bench so the north pole of the magnet is at the top or 12 O clock position and the south pole at the bottom or 6 O clock position. The windings in the rotor are fed DC through the brushes and the commutator ring The magnetic field set up in the rotor is approximately the same with the north pole at top or 12 O clock position and the south pole at the bottom or 6 O clock position. The 2 north poles and 2 south poles are directly facing each other. In magnetism like poles repel opposite poles attract so the rotor turns so the north pole of the winding moves away from the fixed north pole of the permanent magnet. But as it moves the copper pick ups on the commutator ring move off the brushes and the next section of the rotor winding is connected to the brush gear. The rotor magnetic field is re- instated in the same position opposite the fixed magnetic field. The repulsion happens again and again causing rotation. In other words the rotor has a number of windings that are only energised and producing magnetism when they line up with the brush gear.
If we replaced the rotor windings with a fixed magnet and its starting point was with the outer fixed north pole and the rotor north pole at the 12 O clock position the rotor would rotate 180 degrees and stop as the rotor south pole would now be opposite the fixed north pole and the rotor north pole would be opposite the fixed south pole. The attraction between opposite poles would hold the rotor in a fixed position and no rotation would be possible.
This principle is used in the stepper motor where a fixed magnet rotor is surrounded by a number of field coils that can be switched on and off to produce incremental rotation of high accuracy.

The promotion of new and renewable sources of energy?

I’m doing a research on renewable sources of energy and I need some specific facts regarding : the countries which are most affected by this topic, what is currently being done to resolve the issue, where would the money for the solution come from. I need some of these facts because I will be participating in a debate and any of your answers/links/suggestions are most welcomed.

I was in debate in college. It was fun.

For the Gov i would focus on heavy metals from coal. For the Opp would focus on the fact that most people want to feel "green" and focus on non-economical production rather than conservation.

If you would like a quote to cite; I have talked to customers that want solar panels to be placed on the north side of their homes where the sun wont hit them. Their stubborn rational is that the neighbors can see them better on that side…

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/geothermal.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/hydro.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/solar-electric.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/solar-hot-water.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/wind.aspx

Hope that helps, have fun in your debate!

any ideas out there on new energy sources?

Dr. Olah, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry (’94?) makes a very strong case for a "Methanol Economy" as opposed to a "Hydrogen Economy".

His argument: hydrogen, methane and methanol are, in practice, merely ways of storing and transporting energy. They are not "new" energy forms in and of themselves.

Among the most common methods for producing hydrogen, electrolysis (providing water with an electric charge delivered by two different anodes and with the negative side bubbling hydrogen as the positive side bubbles off oxygen) presents 2 problems:

First, expense. Odds are better that we’ll develop a more practical battery in the near future with a very long range per charge.

Second: Until we begin generating all our electricity with non-polluting fuels, hydrogen will get its "charge" (conversion from water to hydrogen) from a method that emits more pollution than it saves.

Methane is considered a major contributor to global warming (I know many here are of the opinion that GW is a money-making scam…even if it is, China is NOT a scam but a huge new variable in the supply/demand equation that has driven up our fuel prices)

Methane can very efficiently be produced using the same method our bodies use which I’d best go into no greater depth concerning.

Anaerobic digestion – the process whereby anaerobes (bacteria that live in the absence of oxygen) digest biomass and release volumes of methane – is becoming ever more efficient. The methane is trapped, of course, as releasing it into the atmosphere would be like pouring $4,000/oz perfume down the toilet.

The methane is pumped through gas-scrubbers that remove unwanted gases such as CO2, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, etc.

NOW!!!! Here’s the REALLY cool part! A tiny handful of researchers are just beginning to investigate the potential efficiencies of using another bacteria – methanatrophs – to CONVERT the GAS (Methane) into the LIQUID FUEL, METHANOL!!!!

That factors down to nothing less than a drop-in replacement for gasoline! Bingo, Zingo, DONE!

Well, not so fast. We’re still awaiting the numbers on those methanotrophs.

A methane fuel cell, tho, is already being installed at the Riverside CA waste-water treatment facility to optimize efficiencies in generating electric power.

…

How do you make hydrogen from water?

I know you can do it with electricity, but what voltage should be used? Does the material of the electrodes matter? I assume it should be DC and not AC. Do the electrodes need to be cleaned if you use tap water?

you need to use some electrolyte to make the water conductive enough for significant electrolysis
a good choice is sodium carbonate or bicarbonate because this won’t interfere with the desired reaction
you can’t use salt because you’ll get chlorine instead of oxygen

DC is necessary
I think 3v would be a practical minimum but higher voltage will just speed the process up
a 6v lantern battery would work nicely
even a 9v battery as long as you weren’t trying to collect high volumes

copper electrodes are fine
use solid wire and strip just an inch or so at the tip
bend into J shape then slip up inside of your filled test tubes

fill test tubes with the electrolyte solution
hold thumb over end and invert tubes into beaker of solution

have fun !

How do you make hydrogen from water?

I know you can do it with electricity, but what voltage should be used? Does the material of the electrodes matter? I assume it should be DC and not AC. Do the electrodes need to be cleaned if you use tap water?

you need to use some electrolyte to make the water conductive enough for significant electrolysis
a good choice is sodium carbonate or bicarbonate because this won’t interfere with the desired reaction
you can’t use salt because you’ll get chlorine instead of oxygen

DC is necessary
I think 3v would be a practical minimum but higher voltage will just speed the process up
a 6v lantern battery would work nicely
even a 9v battery as long as you weren’t trying to collect high volumes

copper electrodes are fine
use solid wire and strip just an inch or so at the tip
bend into J shape then slip up inside of your filled test tubes

fill test tubes with the electrolyte solution
hold thumb over end and invert tubes into beaker of solution

have fun !

Has anyone got any information on geothermal energy?

I need a bit of information on geothermal energy such as the advantages and disadvantages of it and basically what it is. Please help!

The earth’s core is still very hot and it is in molten state. The heat is gradually being depleted to the atmosphere. So this causes water in the depth of some kilometers below the earth surface to get heated and they stay there since there is no avenue for it to come out. When earth quakes or some openings are available they gush out. Hot water gushing from springs seen in Japan etc are the geothermal energy water. So now we are able to harness this energy by drilling deep into the earths crust and hit the water source and bring it out. since it is very hot we can use it to drive a generator to produce electricity or use the heat to have hot water etc. The heat in the water can be used for several uses thus saving the energy required for that purpose.
Advantages: Natural form of energy with no pollution. Water can be supplemented for our water needs.
Disadvantage. No known disadvantage. But unknown like, what happens when all the water comes out from the source and will earth cave in at that point?