GammaGlobulin

This is correct. It is NOT necessary to measure ANYTHING after the fact. And, taking measurements after the fact would be too late. You need to begin by knowing the energy available, as I have stated several times. Then do further calculations to determine quantities such as generator/motor efficiency, or energy lost to heat of tires as they heat up with use, or energy lost when batteries are charged, because when batteries are charged, and heat up as a result, energy is lost.

YES! Exactly! This is exactly the SAME concept. Except, in the UTUBE example, a truck is used with generators onboard the truck located at the wheels. Oh, Wait. Having watched the video, this gondola system does not use electricity. Therefore, different concept.

First off, you do not NEED anything traveling uphill so that you can take measurements. It's a simple matter to do the equations before the truck is even built. Also, if one were a designer of this truck, then it would be required to first do all the calculations that I mentioned. You would need to know the total available energy, which means the potential energy at start, minus the potential energy at finish. And, let's NOT quibble about insignificant wording such as "topping up". Obviously, I was speaking about measuring, in some way, the amount of energy, either net loss or net gain, after the round trip had been completed. For some reason, and I do not know why, you continually think that it is a wise idea to build a system, without first doing the calculations, and then take measurements AFTER THE FACT. Well, yes, this might work for CURTAIN HANGING, for example. But this is not done when designing a system as shown in the UTUBE video. So, I would be OK with using your approach/method, if I were advising an interior decorator to hang my curtains. But, I would not trust your methodology to design any important engineering. Build first. Then measure. Build first, Then measure. Who does that?

My Dear Phellow Physics Phriends: This is NOT a JOKE Post! Here, instead, I am posing a serious question. It’s not really a question, but more of an encouraging word from me, just a word which I hope might goad you into picking up your dusty slide rules and hitting the books, all with the FREE help from MIT. I can hear you saying that you are TOO OLD to learn any new tricks. However, this negative thinking and backsliding-perspective is completely false. I happen to know that there are many, MANY people here who once took physics in high school, or college, or TRIED to take Physics in either, or both. Now that you are retired, or nearing retirement, or even if you have a couple of hours after a hard-day’s work, in the evenings, MIT OpenCourseWare offerings might be just the thing to restore whatever it is that you fear you might be missing in your life. As for me, I DO Plan to begin covering two semesters of uni Physics at MIT. A couple of years ago, I completed a great two-semester course at YALE taught by a prof who is at the forefront of his field, Prof Wyman and his “Global Problems of Population Growth”. Wyman’s course is very insightful, but nothing challenging, really. This time, I will do a review course in first-year Physics, simply because, after many decades, I realize that now my mind has been filling up with cobwebs during the past few years in Wonderland. And in Wonderland, Physics is fairly unimportant, or just Go Ask Alice, when she is feeling small. Why do this? a. This past week on TV, two Fantastic Topics have been posted involving basic understanding of Physics. And, in the reading of the Topics, and in the comments section, I detected some lack of understanding about the importance of Physics in our modern world. b. But really, I am the BIGGEST CULPRIT when it comes to forgetting my Physics. c. However, it is much MORE than this. Our brains MUST BE Challenged if we are to feel like Whole Human Beings. Therefore, what greater challenge than trying to re-study first year Classical Mechanics, and also trying to do this with kids who are only 18, or maybe 19, some of them. I hope a few of you will consider this challenge because, for those who take up the gauntlet, many priceless rewards await you, and these are prizes that money just cannot buy. Before I go on to the MIT Physics Courseware link, let me just add the "Global Problems of Population Growth" link… One moment please… And now on to MIT Physics (first semester, Physics One, and this is the EASY Physics course at MIT, not the one for the Physics geniuses at MIT): Concerning both courses linked above, they are both SUPER interesting, and you are gonna learn a lot. Personally, I am sick and tired of being embarrassed on this forum due to all the Physics I have forgotten in over 50 years of living since my last Physics course. Please keep in mind, however, that if you really want to benefit from the MIT course, you are going to need to FORCE yourself to do the homework, which I think you can find on the MIT website (It's there. The exercises, the readings, all of the good stuff is there.) Is this doable for some Old Guy, like me? It is. And there are no time limits. Go at your own pace, and complete the courses. You guys are really going to thank me for posting this Topic; I know it! Wishing you a brighter and more intelligent tomorrow, through better Physics, and, Regards, Gamma (Gamma with the BIG G!, for Gravity) Please Note: When I was MUCH younger, I actually knew a few old guys who re-learned/learned Physics, and they were successful. Physics is a Natural Science that can provide new perspectives on the world, and on Reality, without resorting to the use of drugs. So then, just click on the links and do your best to train your brain.. If, that is, you, too, feel that you have too much time on your hands. Prof Wyman’s course is DYNAMITE and you will enjoy every moment of it… Guaranteed You can find the COURSEWORK on the Uni Websites for each of the above courses, and so don't miss out!

I just hope that, someday soon, I find a genuine genius woman in Thailand.

So anyway, Guys... I just REALLY HOPE that you people are able to generalize enough in your thinking to GRASP THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT THAT: a. In this case, we are using ROCK flowing downhill to generate energy to power the truck. b. This is NO DIFFERENT from using water flowing downhill to power a water turbine to generate energy to power a truck. The calculations are identical in terms of calculating the energy provided by gravity, which is converted into an electric current, which is stored in a battery, and in-turn used to power an electric vehicle. I do not know why this simple concept is so difficult, really...

Yes, well, you may be missing the point of my simple question initially which was: In this case, WHAT IS THE TOTAL energy available? In order to calculate this, it is simple to subtract the potential energy at the end point from the potential energy at the starting point. After doing this, in case anyone might be interested, you could top-up the battery after one round trip, and then see if there had been a net loss or a net gain. And by doing this, you would know the energy loss or gain of the entire system. This is really no different a case than a waterfall, for example. Except, in this case, you have rock flowing downhill. And the rock is carried by a truck, instead of a pipe or a riverbed. Or, you can think of a hydroelectric generator with water flowing downhill to power the generator. OR, you can think of a storage batter using water instead of electricity, such as in the case of PUMPED STORAGE: But, no matter what you consider, in these cases, you still gotta use.... BIG G! Now you see? Just do the simple calculations as they taught you in high school, beginning with F=ma.

If you want to calculate the potential energy of the payload of the truck at the top of the hill (or available potential energy going from start at top to end at bottom), then, you are going to need F=ma, and the other equations you can derive from F=ma. Sorry, but that is just the way it is. You can refer to this video, for example.... And look! He is using....BIG G! You see???

That music is wicked bad.

No. But, have you tried Preppy H?

If I were to ever return to the USA, I would definitely hang that shirt on the wood paneling of my conservatively furnished study (no joke). I like the colors and the design.

What are his Tik Tok Teaching Credentials? I want to see his CV. Was there any justification for allowing him to teach students, in the first place?

This is the look for Saturdays. While hanging out in New England, or... Similar places. Connecticut, for example.

What is Sperry... Compared to these! Most people here never lived through the heyday of The Beatles. Other than the logo, maybe, this footwear is acceptable.

That was when magazines would be seen strewn on coffee tables.

Where did YOU come up with this word usage?

I think you've got a double-negative going on here... Anyway, for my illogical statement, I have put myself in the stocks. I will remain in this condition as long as I think is necessary until I am satisfied that I have learned a lesson...

As I have already clearly stated, not only must I have been hallucinating this morning, but, in addition, I was clearly out of my gourd for even considering such a solution as solid-state energy conversion from heat to electric current might be possible, even with state-of-the-art technology which has not even been dreamed up yet, sufficient to power anything more than a low-wattage light bulb. So far, it seems that this is the best we can do: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c00227 We have been using TEG for decades on space probes, such as Cassini, but, as you say... Just a few watts of power is possible. So, was this the stupidest thing I have written on TV, to date? Absolutely. I just hope that it will never happen again. But, I hold out no great expectations that it will not.

Ape clip is good. Apparently, there seems to be no single widely accepted name for this symbol. Most people use 'at sign' to designate it. But at sign is two words. Asperand is too easily confused with ampersand, and, with 3 syllables, too difficult to pronounce. We need to agree on one name having one syllable.

I had assumed they were using thermoelectric generators on each wheel to convert braking heat directly into electric current to charge batteries. Apparently not. Maybe I was hallucinating this time, and not Bard.

Wherever you are off too...please just remember one thing... Always stay in touch. We care about you.

Having read your comment of these trials and tribulations renting to Farang, I am curious if these serious problems you encountered are related to renting on a more short term basis, for example between two and four years. I do know a few Farang, not friends, who have rented the same place for 8, 10 years or more. They protect the property as their own. One has a cat, and another a dog, and there is just no way that they would ever think of trashing their places. Most people dislike moving so much that they try to preserve a nice rental arrangement for as long as possible. For those who come to Thailand for one or two years for employment as expats, they probably could not care less about rental properties. And this is when humans turn into animals. Or maybe it is the environment of Jomtien; I have never been there.

I agree with you. Before renting a house, I would (this time) NEED to be COMPLETELY comfortable with the landlord, and able to feel at ease discussing any and all issues which might concern me when renting a property. Some of these landlords behave like LORDS, and whatever they say goes, and you gotta hop to it. Never again! The renter needs to feel at home in whatever home he chooses to rent. Some of us might live a decade in a house. You don't want to end up feeling like a prisoner and prison with the landlord as your warden. Beware before you make that final decision and move in. A good landlord is worth paying more for, too. A good landlord can help in a thousand small ways, and improve the property too, in many cases. Sometimes the landlord can intercede with a noisy neighbor, for example. And much more...

Hmmm Is this frog turning green again? If he is becoming green... Then it's either with envy... Or, he is about to save the planet.

Elon? Are you saying that you plan to send the Thai people in your village to Mars?