Suction Rubberorrery provides the same visual effect as that of the original idea Rubberorrery (see link), except instead of the "planets" depressing the rubber sheet from above as they make their rotations, they suck the sheet against their curved surface from below.

They can do this because each "planet" is equipped with a tiny suction tube, that delivers the proportionally correct equivalent amount of "gravity" to the rubber sheet via a tube running up the centre of its supporting arm of motion.

This means that the "planets" are now invisible, concealed by the sheet, and only the gravitational distortions of space in the form of moving indentations are seen.
-- xenzag, Feb 20 2016

original version Rubberorrery
[xenzag, Feb 20 2016]

This idea really sucks.
-- 8th of 7, Feb 20 2016


This could sort of work, but the suction cups beneath the rubber sheet would need to have some means around their edges to allow them to slide under the rubber.

On the plus side, with such a device you could roll ball-bearings across it to simulate the gravity- influenced paths of potential spacecraft.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 20 2016


// porridge //

That's not just kinky, it's perverted ...

// some means around their edges to allow them to slide under the rubber. //

Vaseline ? Lard ? Or perhaps you could use ... no. That's a dark place you don't want to go ...
-- 8th of 7, Feb 20 2016


Ball caster rings.

Air jets would mess up the trajectory simulation, if you wanted to do that.
-- notexactly, Feb 20 2016


// Ball caster rings //

That sounds somewhat eye-watering .... we told you not to go there ...
-- 8th of 7, Feb 20 2016


Air bearings!
-- notexactly, Feb 20 2016



random, halfbakery