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No magic is involved. An electric catapult is a motor generator. Never mind
that it doesn't look like one. In its acceleration phase it is a motor; electric
power is converted into kinetic energy. In its decelerating phase it is a
generator; the kinetic energy extracted from the capsule is pulled out as
electric power and stored in a Shipstone. Then the same energy is taken from the
Shipstone to hurt the capsule back to Kong.
A Free Lunch!
Not quite. There are hysteresis losses and other inefficiencies. Entropy
always increases; the second law of thermodynamics can't be snubbed. What it
most resembles is regenerative braking. There was a time, years ago, when
surface cars were slowed and stopped by friction, rudely applied. Then a bright
lad realized that a turning wheel could be stopped by treating it as a generator
and making it pay for the privilege of being stopped-the angular momentum could
be extracted and stored in a "storage battery" (an early predecessor of
Shipstones).
The capsule from Kong does much the same; in cutting magnetic lines of
force at the L-City end it generates a tremendous electromotive force, which
stops the capsule and changes its kinetic energy into electrical energy, which
is then stored.
But the passenger need know nothing of this. He simply lounges in his
"hammock" rack for the gentlest ride possible
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