Asking ChatGPT About Alan's Spaceship
Finding out how to build an electromagnetic field drive.
One of the coolest applications of ChatGPT for me is the possibility of using it like the holodeck or computer in Star Trek. In Star Trek, the engineers can run simulations and ask the computer about the feasibility of certain engineering prospects or possibilities. In Star Trek, The Next Generation, the chief engineer, Geordi can ask the computer whether a specific technology or solution can be used to fix a certain problem. This is extremely useful in engineering, and I decided if it could be used in one specific way that I’m interested in.
Previously I wrote of Daniel Fry in his White Sands Incident, where he encountered an extraterrestrial named Alan who showed him a spacecraft powered with an electromagnetic propulsion system. It could fly at speeds up to 8,000 MPH and exceed even the best current technology. I wanted to apply this kind of questioning to ChatGPT to determine what it thought of Alan’s flying ship and its propulsion method. So I fed it the description of the electromagnetic propulsion drive in Fry’s book, and let’s see what it responded with.
ChatGPT: The description given by Alan to Daniel Fry about the magnetic field propulsion system seems to suggest that the spacecraft operates by generating a magnetic field that opposes and repels against the Earth's magnetic field. According to Alan, all matter in motion produces a magnetic field, and the spacecraft's field fans out until it intersects with enough of the Earth's field to produce the necessary repulsion.
The description also mentions the mechanism for circulating air within the spacecraft, which draws air from the cargo hold and circulates it through the passenger compartment. There is no means of renewing the air, but the large volume of air in the hold would supply adequate oxygen for emergency use.
The control equipment of the spacecraft is contained in a case above the differential accumulator, and while it is simpler and more dependable than remote control equipment and servo mechanisms on Earth, it would require an understanding of physics to explain its operation.
Finally, Alan offers to produce a condition of weightlessness during the descent, which Daniel agrees to experience. The sensation of weightlessness is described as the release of the organs from a heavy strain, causing them to spring upward like elastic bands. However, the experience is short-lived and can be distressing and dangerous if fully realized.
Me: Can you explain how the drive works as you would a five year old?
ChatGPT: Sure! So, the drive works by using magnets to push the spaceship away from the Earth's magnetic field. You know how when you try to push two magnets together that have the same side facing each other, they push away from each other really strongly? That's what the spaceship does with the Earth's magnetic field. It creates a big magnetic field around the ship that pushes against the Earth's magnetic field and makes the ship go really fast. It's like a game of pushing magnets, but instead of using your hands, the ship uses its own magnetic field to move!
Me: Based on your current scientific understanding would such a propulsion system be feasible?
ChatGPT: Based on our current scientific understanding, there is no known way to generate a magnetic field powerful enough to produce the required acceleration for interstellar travel. While magnetic fields can be used for propulsion in certain specific scenarios, such as with ion thrusters or magnetic sails, the idea of using a weak magnetic field to push against the Earth's own magnetic field in order to achieve significant acceleration, as described in the story, is not currently feasible.
Additionally, the story contains other elements that are not supported by our current understanding of physics, such as the idea of experiencing weightlessness during a descent without any external forces acting on the spacecraft. Therefore, while it is an interesting idea, the propulsion system described in the story is not currently feasible based on our scientific understanding.
Me: Could a magnetic field drive like this be possible with future technology that can generate a powerful enough magnetic field?
ChatGPT: The idea of using magnetic fields for propulsion is not new and is actively being researched by scientists and engineers. However, the specific details of the magnetic field drive described in the text are not feasible with our current understanding of physics and technology.
One of the main challenges in creating a magnetic field drive that can generate significant thrust is the need for a large amount of energy to power the magnetic field. Additionally, the magnetic field would need to be highly directional, and the spacecraft would have to be able to control and maneuver the field in a precise manner.
However, it is possible that with future advancements in technology, such as the development of more efficient energy sources and stronger magnetic materials, a magnetic field drive could become a viable means of propulsion.
Me: How could such a device be constructed?
ChatGPT: The construction of such a device would require advanced materials science and engineering, as well as a deep understanding of electromagnetism and plasma physics.
First, a powerful electromagnetic field generator would need to be built, which could produce a magnetic field of sufficient strength to create the repulsion force required for propulsion. This could potentially be achieved through the use of superconducting materials, which can generate strong magnetic fields with relatively low power input.
The craft itself would need to be designed to withstand the forces generated by the magnetic field, which could potentially be extremely strong. The shape and materials of the craft would need to be carefully chosen to minimize drag and maximize the efficiency of the propulsion system.
In addition to the electromagnetic field generator, the craft would also need to include a power source capable of providing the energy required to create and maintain the magnetic field. This could potentially be achieved through the use of advanced batteries or a compact fusion reactor.
Overall, the construction of such a device would require significant advances in multiple areas of science and engineering, and would likely be a major technological challenge. However, it is not necessarily impossible, and with continued advances in technology, it may eventually become feasible to build a magnetic field propulsion system like the one described.
I also asked ChatGPT about the “differential accumulator” Alan mentioned; it seems to be a kind of battery that can store energy but also produce energy as well, distinguishing it from a normal chemical battery. The “natural sources” that generate the energy are not mentioned and could be from the Earth’s magnetic field or a type of fusion or fission device.
ChatGPT: The description you provided is quite intriguing, but it sounds like a piece of science fiction rather than a real-world technology. There are a lot of technical terms used in the description, which may not be easily understandable without a background in physics and engineering. However, I can try to explain it in simpler terms.
The differential accumulator seems to be a type of battery that can store energy from various sources, such as sunlight or other natural energy sources. It is said to be able to create a potential difference between two poles of the accumulator, which means that it can generate an electric field. The poles of the accumulator are made of a material that has many free electrons, which are the particles that carry electric charge.
The control mechanism of the differential accumulator allows the electrons to flow through two force rings, which are located at the top and bottom of the craft. When the electrons move through these rings, they create a magnetic field, which is a force that can attract or repel other magnets or magnetic materials.
By controlling the flow of electrons through the force rings, the craft can create a magnetic field that is either in opposition or in conjunction with the magnetic field of its environment. This gives the craft the ability to move through magnetic fields in a controlled manner, and to change its orientation with respect to the magnetic field.
However, it is important to note that this is a fictional technology, and it is not currently possible to build a differential accumulator or a spacecraft that works in this way. While there are real-world technologies that use magnetic fields for propulsion, they operate on different principles than the one described in the passage.
Me: Explain the differential accumulator like you would to a five year old.
ChatGPT: The differential accumulator is like a big battery that can store a lot of energy. We can charge it up using different types of energy that we find in nature. When we charge it up, it creates a really strong magnetic field that we can control. This magnetic field helps us move around and go wherever we want to go. We can also use the magnetic field to control which direction we're going in.
I then questioned further into the details of what kind of magnetic field would need to be generated to create a propulsion effect.
Me: How powerful of a magnetic field would need to be generated to propel against the Earth's magnetic field?
ChatGPT: To calculate the exact magnetic field strength needed to propel against the Earth's magnetic field, we would need more specific details about the hypothetical propulsion system. However, in general, the Earth's magnetic field is relatively weak, with a strength of about 25 to 65 microteslas (µT) at the Earth's surface.
If we assume that the propulsion system would need to generate a magnetic field of comparable strength in order to push against the Earth's magnetic field, then the required field strength would be in the range of 25 to 65 µT. However, it's important to note that this is a very rough estimate and would depend on many factors specific to the design and operation of the propulsion system.
Yet it’s not just about field strength; there are many electromagnets much more powerful yet cannot achieve any propulsion. What is it about Alan’s spacecraft that makes it so special? A clue comes from Alan himself.
“All bodies of matter which are in motion have magnetic fields about them for the reason just given: that all matter contains electrons and all electrons in motion produce magnetic fields. The magnetic field of your earth is very weak in proportion to its gravitational field and it may be difficult for you to understand how acceleration against a strong field can be produced by opposition to a weak one. Just remember what happens when you bring together the ‘like’ or opposing poles of two ‘permanent’ magnets, how the lines of force are pushed outward almost perpendicular to their normal position. So the field of the craft fans outward until it intersects sufficient lines of earth’s field to produce the required repulsion.
He’s describing a certain alignment of the magnetic fields in such a way that one magnetic field “floats” on top of another one. You can see a simulation of magnetic field lines generated by an electromagnet in this simulation. The basic scientific principles are sound, but it’s the details that make the devil; how to actually generate a field with specific properties that allow for this is beyond me.
I then asked ChatGPT how this could be done.
Me: How could this possibly allow the spacecraft to fly on the Earth's magnetic field? It seems to defy current technology.
ChatGPT: The idea of using a magnetic field to fly a spacecraft is indeed an unconventional concept and it is not currently possible with our technology. However, the concept proposed in the text is that the differential accumulator generates a powerful magnetic field that can interact with the Earth's weak magnetic field, creating a repulsive force that propels the spacecraft forward. While this idea seems far-fetched, it is important to keep in mind that technological advancements are constantly being made and what may seem impossible now could become a reality in the future.
If such a method can be used on the Earth’s magnetic field, can it also be used against the Sun’s magnetic field which is on average around twice as strong as the Earth’s field and at certain places up to 100 times stronger.
Me: Could such a similar propulsion method work against the magnetic field of the sun to propel the spacecraft into interstellar space?
ChatGPT: It's difficult to say for certain whether a similar propulsion method could work against the magnetic field of the sun to propel a spacecraft into interstellar space. The sun's magnetic field is much stronger than the Earth's, and the conditions in space are very different from those on Earth.
However, there has been research into using magnetic sails to harness the energy of the solar wind, which is the stream of charged particles that flows outward from the sun. Magnetic sails work by using a magnetic field to deflect the particles of the solar wind, which generates a force that can propel the spacecraft. This is a different mechanism than what was described in the book you mentioned, but it also involves using magnetic fields to propel a spacecraft.
So while we can't say for sure whether a similar method would work in the specific case of the sun's magnetic field, it is possible that magnetic sails or other magnetic propulsion methods could be used for interstellar travel in the future.
Finally, I asked whether this was all fictional?
Me: Is this all a fictional story or could it be real?
ChatGPT: The story about Alan's spacecraft is a work of fiction. However, the principles of electromagnetism and the behavior of magnetic fields are based on real scientific concepts. While some aspects of the story may be unlikely or impossible with our current technology and understanding of physics, it is always important to keep an open mind and consider the possibility of new discoveries and advancements in science and technology in the future.
I disagree with its assessment; I think it’s perfectly reasonable to think the events happened as described. The scientific understanding of Alan is profound, and he seems to completely understand modern electromagnetic physics and more. Is it real? For now unknown, but I think the technology Alan describes is entirely reasonable and currently exists. Many pilots have seen similar aircraft flying over the sky, termed UAP or Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon. They might use the same technology Alan describes of electromagnetic field propulsion.
Skeptics might decry this as all nonsensical, but from my basic college physics and engineering knowledge, it seems possible, yet whether it is technically easy to create is another story, and I’m not so sure it is. Why is antigravity or electromagnetic propulsion even important? Climate change, rising transportation costs, and worsening traffic systems all make transportation more difficult and costly. With some sort of levitating electromagnetic propulsion system, these costs become mitigated and reduced over time. I’m certain someone, somewhere, is already working on these technologies but keeping it hidden, and if Alan is right, then we should be able to utilize it. Alan might one day even come down and show us how to make the electromagnetic drive one day.