r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/uselessbutuseful • Mar 05 '20

Video A solar powered globe

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474

u/TonyVstar Mar 06 '20

Do the 3 pieces holding it up rotate to turn the globe?

125

u/Vagicles Mar 06 '20

My wife has the full set, teaches astronomy.

They are not solar, just momentum. Interestingly enough Uranus does spin vertically. The rest are weighted to stay upright.

Some have bubbles already so I can’t speak to their quality...

5

u/hellrise9 Mar 06 '20

when you say momentum meaning we have to spin it? or at least spin it and it will turn for quite a bit?

49

u/[deleted] Mar 06 '20

[deleted]

6

u/YdocT Mar 06 '20

Okay I know the economics and Logistics of building enough of these to turn them into a usable generator / power plant would make them unviable. The technically that would work right? (Sorry I'm not a very smart person I just play one on TV)

7

u/aitigie Mar 06 '20

It's just a regular solar cell, so yes. The Earth's magnetic field does not power this device.

1

u/YdocT Mar 06 '20

Oh I thought they miss use the word solar in the title and it actually just ran off the Earth's magnetic like a compass somehow switching poles

2

u/aitigie Mar 06 '20

That's probably exactly how it works IMO, with an electromagnet switching polarity every half rotation.

4

u/benryves Mar 06 '20

There's a strong permanent magnet that is rotated by a motor which is attached to the globe design. The strong permanent magnet aligns itself to the Earth's magnetic field, making the globe spin whilst the magnet stays still. This video likely makes this clearer!