A guy lights water on fire?

Question

Ok so in late March of this year some guy in Erie PA used radio waves to light water on fire and everyone went crazy b/c they believe that water could be used as a fuel source now, but is this news really that big? Anyone who studies chemistry extensively already knows that water can be lit on fire and we have know for a very long time, this being so is his accomplishment really that special? Also some argue that while water can be made combustible the cost to actually put radio waves into a car as to use water for fuel would be so high that we would probably be paying around the same amount of money as we already pay for gas. As such does this kind of deflate our expectations from this event? What are you thoughts on this issue?

Answer 1

The only way water can be lit on fire is to break it down to hydrogen and oxygen and burn that and doing that requires more power than will be gotten out.

Answer 2

It is a find that needs a use and needs perfection.  to get any power from "burning" water would cost more energy than put out.

Much like the steam ram.......steam was found to provide a very powerful force, but until a use was found.......(steam locomotion as used in rail and ship applications) it was a relatively useless discovery.

The steam engine may be making a comeback for use in cars and other applications as the closed loop steam engine is very efficient and does not convert and EXHAUST the steam....thus conserving water, where the water remains as the steam is recondensed and the water vapor recovered.

google "closed loop steam engine" and keep the quotes

Answer 3

It was a magic trick.

He didn't actually light water on fire.

Hydrogen fuel cells are a waste of money.