is it possible for a new form of energy other than heat and nuclear energy in propulsion system to work with ?
482027
Heat is energy. It can be transformed from heat to another form of energy like mechanical energy, but the the second law of thermodynamics states that for a closed system entropy either increases or stays the same. This means that wasted heat energy in any system either increases or stays the same unless additional energy enters or leaves the system. If the system is the entire universe, then anytime work is done, either none or more heat is produced . . . the universe can't "unheat" or cool itself (as a whole). Pockets of the universe can reduce entropy, but only by shifting that entropy to another location in the universe.\n\nWhat does this mean? It means that all forms of work produce heat as a byproduct. Even wind produces frictional heat, and wind comes from temperature gradients (uneven heat). Electricity is produced by heat (even nuclear fission power or future fusion power heat water to produce steam to turn a turbine which turns a generator that produces electricity). Hydrogen is produced by reforming technology in refineries and requires heat. Hydrogen can be produced from water by using electricity which uses heat. Ion thrusters use electricity (currently from small nuclear power systems in space probes which produce heat to produce the needed electricity). \n\nI don't think that we're going to get away from heat energy anytime soon.
269384
it exists but i'm not sure if u can use it for energy...it would be to strong
1076095
Yes but it would take a some time and a lot of effort and money invested into alternative sources in energy . We know that we have the capabilities with hydro electric wind solar and nuclear energies but they need more time and effort the only problem is with global warming Do we have the time?
1047344
Solar Sails.\n\nA spacecraft would deploy a huge sail to capture the solar 'wind', the constant stream of solar particles. A rather slow but economical method to move beyond Earth....
1153220
An internal combustion engine perhaps?
974804
It won't work.  You can look at it this way:\n\nOne of the basic laws of physics is Conservation of Energy.  You can't create energy, nor is energy lost.  It is always constant, but it may change form.  Let me give several examples.\n\nThe energy associated with a swinging pendulum changes from kinetic (moving) energy at the bottom of the swing to potential energy at the top of the swing.  Back and forth, kinetic energy, potential energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, etc.  The swing of the pendulum does slowly die down, but that is due to the gradual transfer of kinetic energy to the surrounding air in the form of heat.\n\nIn the second example, the kinetic energy of a moving car is converted to thermal energy (heat) when you hit the brakes.  That's why your brakes get hot if you've been doing a lot of braking.  Of course, to get the car moving in the first place, the engine converts chemical energy from gasoline to thermal energy, which expands the gases in the pistons, pushing on the pistons to make the mechanical energy that turns the wheels.\n\nBack to your problem.  To charge a battery, the energy must come from somewhere.  The amount of energy coming from your voice is small, and certainly the amount of energy picked up by a microphone is much smaller, since most of the energy goes right on past the microphone.  It would take a very strong voice and a lot of talking to charge a battery, even if the charging circuit were perfect with no losses.\n\nNow, if your voice could turn a windmill.........
1114274
Tough question, however Solar and Wind are viable sources of energy where available.  BioMass and utilization of human waste are also viable sources of future energy.  There's some speculation about technology to harness the energy contained in Ocean Water (currents) though I am not an engineer and don't understand it at all.  Finally, eliminating wastefulness and extending the usefulness of exsiting fuel types will assure at least in the short term enough for all (this is particularly aimed at the USA as the largest consumer of existing fuels per capata in the World, the question is why)
864430
Not really. If we were interested in ATP instead of electricity, it might work, but even then we'd have to supply this solar cell with a fresh supply of CO2 and H2O. In this case, Physics has a better answer than Biology (the photoelectric effect)
18018
Solar Sails are a very interesting technology that could be used for future space exploration, but currently face serious engineering issues to be able to do this.  \n\nFuture manned and robotic space exploration outside of our solar system could currently be considered a pipe dream.  Solar Sails, along with fusion motors, Bussard ramjets, antimatter drives, and Von Neumann machines are the various technologies being research as possible ways to further our manned and robotic exploration of space outside of our own solar system.\n\nAs far as the speed for a Solar Sail, most Solar Sail proposals would provide thrust for the craft with a very large laser. The actual speed of the craft would depend on the size of the craft and the size of the laser used, and the amount of time the laser would be able to provide thrust for the craft.
596957
I understand you assume energy can be produced from heat. You are correct, however don't forget that -24 Celsius is also a "level" of heat energy (temperature in better words). In case you can find a substance that will expand substantially under -2 degree celsius. Then when you store this substance in arctic conditions, it will become pressurized and that pressure can easily be used in for example turning some turbine blades. Any kind of energy can be converted into any other type of energy, given necessary technology...
530744
An alternative energy source
1093357
According to the theory of energy conservation, it is impossible to create energy from nothing, thus, the only way gravity can be used to add energy to a system is by increasing the kinetic energy of two objects by accelerating them towards each other, a trade off of potential energy for kinetic energy.  This energy is generally short lived, however, as the two objects eventually collide and the kinetic energy from movement become heat from impact.  \n\nThe only way you could effectively harness the energy of gravity, is to discover where objects will impact each other, and then place a generator there which can make use of the energy resulting from the collision of those 2 objects.
294062
In theory it could work but the process would create a large amount of heat and therefor the engine would be so heavy that it would not be practical. Maybe in a stationary application?
36981
Well it it quite difficult imagine a computer running on gas, but it may come due to innovation technology. It is quite practical that whatever the source eg. turbines or heat or solar receptors, the energy "generated" is always converted into electricity which is a standard form used. Now if you want to say that is electricity was'nt there what would we have done, well we would have worked something out. A gas powered land mower is quite practical. Why not a computer for that matter. \n\nAll the best.
505155
I think everyone else has answered this pretty clearly.  NASA looked into constructing 'solar sail ships' for space travel.  A solar powered laser placed near the sun would generate a focussed beam of mono-phasic laser light that would be directed onto an extremely light ship which maximised surface area to mass/volume by use of a special sail.  This would provide a small forward acceleration away from the laser.\n\nHowever, on Earth.. as indicated.. its a bit impracticle with present power source technologies.  You may want to think about approaching to problem of fusion power and then minimizing the technology for youur application ( a long time field of research.. not an overnight job!!).\n\nGood luck!
1083262
I don't think it has been discovered yet.  Just recently a UCLA team has been able to produce "cold fusion".  It was not energy efficient, however it will be a good neutron generator.  This just as everyone was ready fo finally agree cold fusion does not exist.\n\nThen there is the whole nano tech revolution going on where new processes that do not work well in the large world work great in the small.  I read stories of ideas to link millions of tiny fuel cells together.\n\nThen of course you have my favorite, Dr. Chu's termite guts solution.  If we could figure out how the protoza in termite guts convert cellulose into ethanol we would have a fuel system to support mankind for thousands of years.\n\nSo, I think you'll just have to sit back and watch it all develop to get the answer to your question. In any case it will come from science.
501495
Of course it is.  It is done all the time at Iofe Institute in St. Petersburg Russia, where they have continued research into this in the field of lasers and semi conductors (as a parallel pursuit).  Also with burst technology.  Also, the Japanese physicist Hidetsugu Yagi did a lot of work in the field. \n\nHowever, I am not sure whether you are talking about energy that can then be used by a consumer or high energy antanae, which is already a reality.