The Ball-Bearing electric motor
This interesting but unfortunately not very useful device produces motion from electricity without magnetism being involved. It operates purely by thermal means, so it works on AC or DC, and the motor can rotate in either direction, determined by the initial spin which is usually required to get it going.
It simply consists of two ball-bearing races on a common conductive shaft, with the outer ring of each race being connected to a high current, low voltage power supply. An alternative construction is to fit the ballraces inside a metal tube, and mount them on a shaft with a non-conductive section (e.g. two sleeves on an insulating rod). This method has the advantage that the tube will act as a flywheel.
This picture shows the motor running. There is a rectangular white label on the right-hand flywheel, being blurred by the motion.
References
1. Milroy, R.A. Discussion, J. Appl. Mechanics, vol. 34,1967,p.525. 2.
2. Gruenberg, H. The ball bearing as a motor. Am. J. Phys., vol. 46, 1978, p.1213.
3. Weenink, M.P.H. The electromagnetic torque on axially symmetric rotating metal cylinders and spheres.Appl. Sc. Research, vol. 37, 1981, p.171.
4. van Doom, M.J.M. The electrostatic torque on a rotating conducting sphere. Appl. Sc. Research, vol. 40, 1983, p.327. 5. Mills, A.A. The ball-bearing electric motor. Phys. Educ., vol. 15, 1980, p.102.
6. Marinov, S. The perpetuum mobile is discovered. Nature, vol, 317, 26 Sept. 1985, p.xii.
7. Marinov, S. The Thorny Way of Truth, Part II. East-West, Graz, ist edition 1984, 3rd ed. 1986.
At the time of writing, Dr Marinov was at the Institue for Fundamenral Physical Problems, Mouellenfeld- gasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
More info on Stefan Marinov : Institute for New Energy
Harold Asdpen's Energy science site