Thread: Breakdown

Greetings TSF, does anybody know how i can turn a rock into a powdery material without physically striking it? Or rather any solid material (wood, plastic, etc.) into a powdery/dust-like material? I was thinking a similar process of deatomization or having electromagnetism involved. Any ideas?

By the way, i'm the new kid on the block 8) .

The question's a bit ambiguous. When you say "strike", does that mean other physical methods are approved, such as rubbing it or crushing it?

You can break up a kidney stone with sound waves. I don't know if that counts because there needs to be fluid in contact with the stone.

Any reason why this is closed?

No idea, unless I accidentally clicked somewhere I shouldn't. Let's see if I can reopen it by clicking the box below.

Originally Posted by Harold14370

You can break up a kidney stone with sound waves. I don't know if that counts because there needs to be fluid in contact with the stone.

Ultrasound is a very cool idea for this, Harold. I am frustrated I didn't think of it myself.

Metals can be dissolved and then precipitated to get very fine powder. That might also work on some stones, but I don't think it'd work on wood or a lot of other things.

Originally Posted by inow

Ultrasound is a very cool idea for this, Harold. I am frustrated I didn't think of it myself.

I had that done a couple of years ago, which is why I thought of it. It's called lithotripsy.

Hey guys, thanks for replying so far. Pristine, when i said physically, yes i meant you breaking it down yourself (with your hands per se), whether you use a hammer, a saw, anything that involves actual contact between you and the object. Now Harold, what you mentioned is only what i found to be a medical practice, so it wouldn't be it. Likewise MagiMaster, dissolving would be very tedious; so no liquid involved. When i said electromagnetism, imagine a rock sitting on a metal plate with wires connected to the plate from the power supply. When the power turns on, you notice that the rock begins to break down. This phase goes on for a while until all you'll see is, dust sitting on the plate, then the power cuts off. What idea comes to mind after that experiment?

Also, keep in mind that there's no heat tranfer involved too.

It sounds like you want to find a way to break the forces which hold the atoms together... to eliminate EM and nuclear forces. Yeah? If so, I don't think we can do that with today's tech. This is just a guess, though.

Originally Posted by inow

Originally Posted by Harold14370

You can break up a kidney stone with sound waves. I don't know if that counts because there needs to be fluid in contact with the stone.

Ultrasound is a very cool idea for this, Harold. I am frustrated I didn't think of it myself.

If you are going to use shock waves, explosives have been shown to be effective.

Originally Posted by Mark6

imagine a rock sitting on a metal plate with wires connected to the plate from the power supply. When the power turns on, you notice that the rock begins to break down. This phase goes on for a while until all you'll see is, dust sitting on the plate, then the power cuts off. What idea comes to mind after that experiment?

So, you've seen this and are curious to know how it worked?

I have no idea.

Hey guys: inow, that could be EXACTLY what i'm looking for. Now Dr. Rocket, though explosives aren't allowed in this project (due to its instant strike), the idea that it uses shockwaves/vibration could help come up with a safer alternative. And Pong, try relating that to the rock experiment. Other than that, i appreciate the responses from everyone thus far. Hopefully, more people can look into this.

*100 centuries later...* Hello? *laughs* just kidding.

Originally Posted by Mark6

*100 centuries later...* Hello? *laughs* just kidding.

Must be almost scary to meet someone with such a highly developed sense of humour/fun.

Wow. Really?

Originally Posted by Mark6

Wow. Really?

Absolutely, but I'm worried the massive effort needed to get out of your pram, every day, could be affecting your health.

um?...Have you checked my question and thought of a possible solution?

Originally Posted by Mark6

um?...Have you checked my question and thought of a possible solution?

I haven't thought of a solution and I'm not interested in the question!
You have just become a member of TSF. You may be aware that some individuals, who were important contributors, appear to have left.
You asked a question and several forum members gave an answer. After a short interval you sent in a post giving the impression you had no real interest in the answer, or the responses, and you appeared to find this highly amusing.
Maybe you are very young, but I still find your attitude, and tone, unnecessarily childish.

I guess you're right then. Not knowing that somebody was going to be offended, i should've thought twice.