Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Latest By
Category:


Armor
Artificial Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work

"On-line gaming environments are completely different things... Essentially it's massive global role-playing."
- Peter Watts

Gravity-Repulsion Generator  
  Counters the force of gravity with its own force.  

This is an interesting use of the use of a gravity "generator", because it is only used when leaving a planet or other body. The remaining parts of the journey are accomplished using Newton's Third Law - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The power principle by means of which the ship was able to leave the earth was based on the laws of electromagnetic attraction and repulsion, which was called into play on a most powerful scale. Under the tremendous excitation induced by the Lowell gravity-repulsion generator, the force was so great that it drove the space ship away from the earth — just the opposite to the action of gravitational attraction. In fact it seemed to do just that: to reverse the normal attraction of gravitation into a repulsion force. Responding to the enormously powerful electro-magnetic field thus created, the space-ship was able to leave the planet rapidly and at a fast accelerating rate yet did not require the enormous initial velocity of seven miles a second, the critical velocity of escape from a body the size of the earth. This rendered the first upward rush safe and comfortable, for the power of the initial rise could be kept under control to any desired degree. Propulsion in any direction was obtained by the reaction of a highly compressed explosive gas directed from cylinders placed on the various sides of the ship. Once the heavy layers of air were left behind, great velocity could be attained in a short time and in the vacuum of space it would be virtually self-sustaining.
Technovelgy from Moon People Of Jupiter, by Isaac R. Nathanson.
Published by Amazing Stories Quarterly in 1931
Additional resources -

At last all is in readiness - the great ship lifts off!

Everything was in readiness; everyone at his post. The last box had been hoisted on board; the last final round of inspection under the critical eye of our commander, the last good-byes; the entrance sealed; the portholes screwed hermetically tight — everything was ready to the last possible dot, before Commander Lowell nodded the signal to start.

The throb and pulse of the mighty repulsion engines sounded louder and louder; the shouts of the multitude outside sounded distantly through the impervious walls of the space-ship. At the final signal, the great repulsion generators roaring deafeningly, the great space-ship began to shiver and palpitate, and began to lift gently upward; and with the roar of the engines turning into the crescendo of an ear-splitting shriek, the "Martian” rose up and up, drove ahead and rapidly disappeared from sight.

Once a great enough distance is achieved, it is no longer useful:

In twenty-four hours, as reckoned by our chronometers, the “Martian" was leaving the earth-moon system rapidly behind, our ace having attained a velocity of seven miles per second. The electro-magnetic repulsion engines were long since turned of! and silent, not needed at this great distance...

See the many different uses of gravity under "G".

Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Moon People Of Jupiter
  More Ideas and Technology by Isaac R. Nathanson
  Tech news articles related to Moon People Of Jupiter
  Tech news articles related to works by Isaac R. Nathanson

Articles related to Space Tech
Beautiful Visualization of Dawn Spacecraft
Tumblin' Tumbleweed Rovers To Eplore Mars
Tentacled Robot Captures Space Debris
Reflect Orbital Sunlight On Demand

Want to Contribute an Item? It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add it here.

<Previous
Next>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Science Fiction in the News

When Colds Threaten You Can't Do This - Or Can You?
'...a hemispherical force field enclosing his head.'

Beautiful Visualization of Dawn Spacecraft
'Then he became aware of a gentle pressure pushing him away from the ship.'

Biological War: A Scenario
'And now they wre busily transforming all their companions, and so on, and so on...'

Pole-Dancing Stripperbot Robot
'Why, a clockwork dancer, or, better still, one that would go by electricity and never run down...'

Collective Superintelligence Is At Hand!
'Maybe the individual intelligence of each Cubic pools into a group intelligence...'

Instant Journalists: Ordinary People With Cell Phones
'We'll show them whose planet this is!'

Health Kiosk Has No Human Doctor
'The electronic body analyzer had been developed...'

Meta's Horizon Studio's Unique Avatars From Text Prompts
'Looks like she has bought the Avatar Construction Set and put together her own...'

VaMEx Biomimetic Mars Robot Inspired By Skink
'Across the ground something small and metallic came, flashing in the dull sunlight of midday.'

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Science Fiction Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.