HOW THE ELECTROMAGNETIC THRUSTER WORKS

               HOW THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPACECRAFT THRUSTER WORKS

     I have gotten to the point where I have a somewhat working model of an electromagnetic propulsion device that would work in low Earth orbit, at least in theory.

     It is easy to see how the magnet turns to align with Earth’s north and south magnetic poles just like a compass and than how an electromagnet by changing its polarity is made to rotate in a circle like a motor. We saw how adding a fin to push against the water made my model move in a line through the water. We have farther more seen that we can accomplish the translation from rotation to linear motion by placing a weight on our model.

     This may seem a little mysterious so what are the actual mechanics of an electromagnet rotating in Earth’s magnetic field like a motor translating to linear motion?

     I have given this a considerable amount of thought and I truly believe this is the easiest to grasp explanation I can currently provide:

     The torque from the electromagnet interacting with Earth’s magnetic field is applied at one point on the device. That is the force of rotation provided by the electromagnet.

     The device has a tendency to rotate around its center of mass, which is at a different point. I am not sure what physical law states that is so but it seems self evident.

     Since there are two points where rotation is ‘trying’ to take place the actual rotation occurs at a third point. Again this is a little intuitive but shouldn’t be hard to grasp.

     So when the device rotates around the third point, which is not the center of mass, the heavier or more massive portion of it moves in an arc. This is also intuitive since if the center of rotation is not at the center of mass one side or the other of that mass must be greater.

     That portion of the device with the more mass pulls the whole device with it as it rotates. This is from centrifugal force or you may want to think of it in terms of movement and momentum. (Physicists say there is really no such thing as centrifugal force, but that is beside the point.)

  

                                   MORE TO CONSIDER ON PRACTICALITY

     To use this as it now is in concept would require the spacecraft to mostly consist of the electromagnets and also that the whole spacecraft would need to rotate. Here the concept is only in its baby stages and might be developed to the point where it could rotate on an axle that would then be attached to the spacecraft.

     Also does the device only have the capacity to go in one direction? That is something to consider.
Actually I have some ideas on this some of which I have already tried out.

     The first way to control the direction of linear motion is to control the direction of rotation. The opposite direction of rotation will make it go in a different direction. Next the direction may be affected by changing the timing of the reversal of polarity of the electromagnets. I have done some experiments and this seems to be the case. Also, the position of the secondary electromagnets would alter the direction of linear rotation.
 
     Of course it can go in any direction along the plane parallel to the lines of Earth's Flux if it instead of rotating swings side to side like a pendulum.


Here is a diagram: