Perpetual Arrogance

There appeared a news note in TCBA News Volume 13, #3, p.2 which reported on several anti-Tesla statements made by writer Bob Pease (Electronic Design, 4/4/'94). Dr. James Corum submitted a six-page rebuttal to Mr. Pease's comments (see TCBA News Volume 13, #4, pp.13-18). Apparently, Dr. Corum's article did not fully convince Mr. Pease. He continued his Tesla bashing in the April 3, 2000 issue of ED (pp.163-165).

The most recent article was devoted to exposing perpetual motion and free energy schemes. I'm somewhat puzzled as to how Mr. Pease made a connection between the above mentioned topics and Nikola Tesla. Tesla was well aware of the contradiction between perpetual motion and the laws of physics. As for free energy, Tesla considered the universe to be a dynamic environment and a possible source of energy. The scientist suggested that man might someday find a way to tap the energy for the good of civilization. Why does this upset Pease?

The problem I have with Mr. Pease's Tesla bashing is that he fails to quote Tesla directly or give specific reference sources which can be used to evaluate his claims against Tesla. This does not speak well for an MIT graduate. I can only guess why Pease uses Tesla as a target: (1) He needs to fill in some space; and (2) He carries an indelible negative bias toward Tesla.

Concerning Pease's remarks in both the past and most recent issues of ED, it seems that he is confused regarding terms such as energy and power. Take, for example, a match. There is considerable potential energy in a match. However, it can produce very little power. That is, until you find a way to release the energy at a shorter time interval. When the potential energy in a match is released at shorter intervals, it is capable of relieving you of several fingers. On the contrary, if the energy in lightning could be spread over several minutes, it wouldn't even toast a slice of bread.

This misunderstanding between energy and power may be the reason why Mr. Pease doesn't accept Tesla's ability to produce “millions of horsepower.” It has been stated that Tesla's Colorado system was capable of releasing 120,000 horsepower at 280 times per second. If true, then we are talking a repetitious (not just one big bang) release of some 34 million horsepower! As impressive as this may be, Tesla considered constructing machines of even greater power.

The following is an excerpt from Electronic Design, 4/3/2000.

When I mentioned in “Retrospective Stuff” (electronic design, Jan. 10, p. 145) that Thomas Edison had been a great inventor in the 20th century as well as the 19th, several people asked me why I didn't say anything good about Nikola Tesla. After all, Tesla's ac motors have eclipsed many of Edison's inventions.

True, but in later life, Tesla was involved in many “over unity” inventions. For example, “Tesla's mechanical oscillator...was built in the form of an air cylinder and contained several chambers, each of which successively cools the air until it becomes liquid. Tesla stated that the device was highly efficient and could be used as a power-generating system if magnets were attached to the oscillating pistons.” Yeah, sure, and “death rays,” too. His proposals to transmit a billion watts from one side of the world to the exact opposite side, using huge coils and towers, never accomplished a thing - except blowing out the power house.

COMMENT: A rebuttal to Mr. Pease's comments is difficult due to their ambiguity. It's like my saying, I don't like oranges because apples are red.

I forwarded the Pease article to a retired electrical engineer. He responded: “This seems to be a classic example of someone who has been educated beyond their intelligence.”