In a given time N balls are delivered and transferred from the left to the right wheel at the top. In that same time N balls are transferred back to the left wheel at the bottom. So N balls are lifted a height H and allowed to fall the same height H. The net work is zero, even though on the left the balls are separated farther apart, and go a greater linear distance, it's the height changes that matter, determining the work done. Clicking on the red button reverses everything, and it looks just as good, even though this reverses the role of the wheels as to which is the "source". The red gears keeps everything in sync, just as does the "timing belt" in my silly slinky device.
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