Endless Energy for the earth?

Question

On earth, wind, solar and even the oceans waves create energy. On earth, we have gravity. It's force "pushes down". Are there any thoughts on using gravity as an energy source?

Answer 1

Gravity is constant. You have to use energy to overcome gravity before you can use the gravity to generate any energy... for example your car will roll down a hill under the influence of gravity with great efficiency. But first you have to get it to the top of the hill somehow.

Hydroelectric power uses gravity about as effectively as we can. The thermal energy from the Sun and Earth's interior are the source that overcomes gravity for us with hydroelectric. That is what "lifts" the water up so it can flow downhill.

Answer 2

If you let gravity push an object down, it is only changing the energy from potential to kinetic. Energy would then have to be put back into the system to move the object back to its original height (so gravity could do its job again). So the answer is no, this would create no surplus of energy.

And your original statement is also incorrect. When energy is collected for our use, it is merely being converted. Solar energy is energy created by fusion inside the sun. The resulting energy expelled travels to earth as heat, where solar cells can collect the energy and transform it into electrical energy. Energy is not created, it is only converted between forms.

Answer 3

so do magnets..they pull away from each other and if placed in 4 maybe they will pull and create energy..gravity would have a part in it..

Answer 4

I can't imagine how gravity could be used to generate energy for use.  However wind, solar, and water through hydroelectric dams can be used.  Ocean waves would be very difficult to gather any energy from.