Weightless dumbbells defy physics with gyroscope junk science

SleighBoy

#1 – 11:14 AM June 12, 2008

And what do you have against something running on magic?

dculberson

#2 – 11:15 AM June 12, 2008

I'm trying to understand both why they think this would work, and why it wouldn't work, and it's hurting my brain. A gyroscope will react to input, generally inducing precession, right? So you would get some resistance and all kinda wobbly weirdness. Whatever. I doubt it will do what they want it to.

godisafiction

#3 – 11:21 AM June 12, 2008

Constructed of 99% pure Unobtainium

Fnarf

#4 – 11:33 AM June 12, 2008

If you've ever played around with a spinning bicycle wheel off its fork you know that gyroscopic action can pack a lot of punch, and could conceivably provide a good workout to your forearm muscles, but I don't see how anything in this tube is going to do it, unless they're spinning at the speed of light or something.

georgelazenby

#5 – 11:37 AM June 12, 2008

the only thing that ever happens with gyroscopes is that the gravitational mass of the object experiencing the gyroscopic force is countered to anyone outside its frame of reference. A person holding it experiences only its inertial mass.

So, I guess you could dial in a speed that would give the person holding this thing a variety of perceived masses between the gravitational and inertial masses. But I doubt it.

murray

#6 – 11:39 AM June 12, 2008

Just another load of utter tripe from Yanko Design. If there was a large enough wheel spinning in these, you might be able to get a slight wrist workout by twisting it. But I get the impression from this and other stupid ideas I've seen on that site, that the contributers are more interested in showing off their photoshop skills than designing anything realistic.

bonafidebob

#7 – 11:41 AM June 12, 2008

"The faster they spin the more they weigh" is pretty clearly bunk. Gyroscopes are interesting, but only translate forces to a different angle. Anyway there's already a gyroscopic exercise gizmo that's both fun and frustrating: http://www.powerballs.com/

Tubman

#8 – 11:44 AM June 12, 2008

I think Fnarf's on the right track: the dumbbells don't change weight, they're supposed to make use of gyroscopic inertia to make them feel heavier when you move them in a certain direction.

That's at least theoretically possible, although I would think it you'd have to get an awful lot of rpms out of gyros small enough to fit in those tubes for it to actually work. Anyone know if breaking the sound barrier leads to problems for gyros?

Anonymous Anonymous

#9 – 11:55 AM June 12, 2008

They won't generate weight.

But if you've used a powerball (hand-held gyroscope spinner type thing), you know they can be difficult to move around once you've got them spinning.
They can reach 15000rpm without problems, so I can see why this may be possible.

Anonymous Anonymous

#10 – 12:03 PM June 12, 2008

I have used the Dyna-Flex Gyro Ball for years, and it works flawlessly, and is an amazing workout. It really does the trick from your forearms to your shoulders. This company here just has the wrong application.

Anonymous Anonymous

#11 – 12:04 PM June 12, 2008

Ooops forgot the link for the Dyna-Flex...

http://www.armshaper.com/66_dyn_66/index.html

Rob Beschizza

#12 – 12:06 PM June 12, 2008

"I don't see how anything in this tube is going to do it, unless they're spinning at the speed of light or something."

Singularity curls are the new bowflex.

bardfinn

#13 – 12:15 PM June 12, 2008

A: They're going to need some very, very dense and precisely machined material to make the gyroscopes in /those/ be /any/ sort of challenge;

B: Dyna-Flex. In other words, *zip* wheeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*GRINDGRINDGRIND*

krylon

#14 – 12:43 PM June 12, 2008

how have we gotten this far without mentioning a Powerball aka a gyroscope made for excercises that actually WORKS?

I'd post a link if Apple saw fit to put copy/paste on iPhones, but basically it's a ball with a gyroscope in it that you twist to a) work your forearm muscles and b) work your grip (the bastard always wants to fly out of your hand).

The things work really well, frankly. The above design, though: not so much. You're working directly against the force made by the gyroscope in the Powerball, and I can't see that happening not only in that tiny tube but in ANY object dumbell shaped in a manner that would effectively replace dumbells, considering how many directions they are moved.

Edit: aw crap someone did mention dynaflex. Oh well: point still stands

SamF

#15 – 12:51 PM June 12, 2008

Have you ever taken a 15k RPM hard drive out of an enclosure while it was still spinning?

To say that they actally GET heavier is a misconception. But they will provide a resistance which is all that's required to get a workout.

Now whether it's enough resistance to replace anything but a 4 or 5lb barbell, I have no idea. Doubtful. But it's not ENTIRELY junk.

Vveneziani

#16 – 1:40 PM June 12, 2008

Brownlee,

You just love going after us, don't ya? Yes, I REALLY believe that some dumbbell from Yanko Design is going to make its way into Equinox. ETA is 3 months.

Also, we formally challenge you to a game of bocce ball. Let me know if you accept.

Forever yours,
VV

Vveneziani

#17 – 1:44 PM June 12, 2008

By the way, thanks for the link love ;)

Thinkerer

#18 – 1:57 PM June 12, 2008

The principles of operation of these devices are derived from the economic and foreign policies of the current administration.

But seriously:

"I admire Gearfuse's prescience: there's millions to be made marketing fake gyroscopic junk science to wealthy nut jobs. Now that's a racket I want in on!"

Small potatoes (so to speak). Have a look at nutritional supplements and food health claims -- you don't even have to build hardware for that.

Anonymous Anonymous

#19 – 2:34 PM June 12, 2008

You can restrict my posts by IP, but that is Sooooo easily changed. Chinese Democracy indeed.

technogeek

#20 – 3:37 PM June 12, 2008

Dumbbells (n): Those who could take this concept seriously.

"But look! There's a product mock-up photo! It _must_ be real!"

chef

#21 – 3:38 AM June 13, 2008

Knowing how the Dynabee/Powerball works(I love mine - they're fun), I'd be afraid of accidentally dropping this thing and having it go apeshit on the floor.