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Like most titles that end with a question mark - "no". Why would you use some kind of acoustic wave system over tried and true maglev?
"Elon Musks final invention will be a time machine. It will only work once before exploding. Before entering it, Elon will turn around and tell us he has done his duty and given us many gifts, and now we must use those gifts to advance mankind. He hopes great things for us. We beg for him to stay and aid us further. He smiles sadly, He looks at us with his tired but happy eyes, shakes his head, and steps into the mac…
> it's not an evacuated tunnel Really? I thought it was already established that the Hyperloop is a vactrain ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vactrain ). Using small cars (say, six passengers) accomplishes the "leaves when you arrive" and putting solar panels on top of the tunnel accomplishes the storing energy part. I wonder what the alternative would be and what its advantages over a vactrain would be.
I can't figure out how the OP proposal differs from Charles Alexander's. Low frequency (long wavelength) waves travel around the tube at the speed of sound. By traveling at the same speed, and correctly choosing a point along the wavefront, one can take advantage of significantly reduced apparent drag. It's implicit in Alexander's suggestion that either (a) the total length of the loop is an integer multiple of the w…
Seriously, until we have a solid info, or even a new guess, can we lay off Hyperloop?
I can't figure out how the OP proposal differs from Charles Alexander's. Low frequency (long wavelength) waves travel around the tube at the speed of sound. By traveling at the same speed, and correctly choosing a point along the wavefront, one can take advantage of significantly reduced apparent drag. It's implicit in Alexander's suggestion that either (a) the total length of the loop is an integer multiple of the w…
No, jokes aside, the reason I wrote this up is that I wasn't entirely convinced of the exact physics laid out in Charles' post (I think e.g. Daniele Foresti et al [1] liked from my post may have more interesting model). Also, Charles seemed to assume that the wave would be there only to reduce drag, not to propel the capsule/car. That doesn't sound like Musk to me.
But most importantly I think I bring to the table a careful poetic analysis of the Hyperloop. My work in this case is not in physics (where I actually do have my training), but in literature.
I can't figure out how the OP proposal differs from Charles Alexander's. Low frequency (long wavelength) waves travel around the tube at the speed of sound. By traveling at the same speed, and correctly choosing a point along the wavefront, one can take advantage of significantly reduced apparent drag. It's implicit in Alexander's suggestion that either (a) the total length of the loop is an integer multiple of the w…
I don't think there is any distinction. He's just reblogging. He did link the original at least.
Another difference is in Charles' model you would have to travel at the speed of sound. Due to the shape not being a perfect line airflow will have to be supersonic somewhere over the surface of the craft. That's generally not good for energy efficient travel. My "design" allows for the capsule traveling at subsonic speeds.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Drag? And by the way - the title doesn't end in a question mark. ;)
It does on HN : P Well, the acoustic idea wouldn't solve drag at all. The craft would still have to move through air.