> I think perpetual motion generators have been discussed 
> on the list but that's not what I'm after.

Good, 'cause that don't work! ;-)

> Propellor clocks and Olin's eyeball use transformers 
> and slip ring contacts to transfer power to the moving part.

> Did some web searching but nothing came up for this:
> 
> Why isn't there a simple way to convert centrifugal or 
> centripetal force to electricity?

> If I can stand in the spinning barrel at the fair, the floor drops 
> down and I'm plastered to the wall, then
> why can't the same force be turned into electricity in 
> some straightforward process?

Put on your physics cap.

Let's just look at units:
energy = joules = (kg)(m^2)/(s^2)
force = newtons = (kg)(m)/(s^2)

To deliver energy, therefore, some displacement is required,
in order to add the additional "m" in the denominator of the
energy units to the force units.  Thus, mechanical production
of energy requires some displacement.

This is counterintuitive:  after all, if you place your hands flat
on a wall and push as hard as you can, neither you nor the
wall will move, but your body is obviously expending energy.

Mike H.

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