Monday, August 24, 2009

Archimedes' Water Lifter

In ancient times, the philosopher, mathematician, and general mad scientist Archimedes invented a machine to lift water an unlimited distance, using only it's tendency to flow downhill and a crank. The water screw is incredibly useful for any situation where water is down and needs to be brought up, be it for supplying an uphill foundation with water, or to drain a downhill location, like a mine. (The uphill site will want to drain in a different downhill direction.) In Archimedes' time, the crank would be turned by a slave or cheap laborer, but since then we've found the electric motors work way better. Motors don't get tired or bored, to say nothing of the absolute immorality of slavery.
This gives me a brilliant idea, which I will describe in detail tomorrow.

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