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I am powerful on one side,

twice when I am infinite,

while half of me negates,

my other inflates.

You could call me an A ray,

or maybe a sill ender,

but never, ever shall you

call me a well rounded figure.

I can fly, or I can spin,

but never will I have a double end.

Hint:

LDRUL

Hint (Probably gives away the answer):

Magnet

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    $\begingroup$ If there is some reason (beyond "that wasn't what I was thinking of") why the existing answers do not solve this puzzle, it's not apparent at all what part of the puzzle actually invalidates those responses. Because it seems they should be at least as valid as any other answer you might have in mind, this is looking "too broad" and may be put on hold as such. You may need to update the puzzle to make sure invalid responses are demonstrably invalid. $\endgroup$
    – Rubio ♦
    May 15, 2018 at 10:20
  • $\begingroup$ @Rubio Okay...will do. Just wondering (sorry, I don't ask many riddles), is "that wasn't what I was thinking of" not a valid reason for not accepting an answer to a riddle? $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 15, 2018 at 21:45
  • $\begingroup$ @RedwolfPrograms Only if the expected answer is a better fit for the given clues. Otherwise, questions like "What number am I thinking of?" would be valid puzzles. $\endgroup$
    – MikeQ
    May 15, 2018 at 23:55
  • $\begingroup$ @Rubio Oh, okay. But so far, I can find a (small) problem with every answer here $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 16, 2018 at 1:42
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    $\begingroup$ @RedwolfPrograms Then you may want to give answerers more specific feedback than "not correct". I'm having trouble finding a reason why at least two of these answers don't fit the riddle; perhaps an explanation of why you think the answers don't work will nudge someone in the right direction to actually solving it. Also note that even a correct answer may not fit the question perfectly because the answerer is not inside your head and doesn't get every detail or nuance. But a question that is Too Broad permits multiple "adequate answer"s—plausible fits not ruled out by the question itself. $\endgroup$
    – Rubio ♦
    May 19, 2018 at 22:38

7 Answers 7

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Answer:

Halbach array

I am powerful on one side,

The Halbach array is constructed to increase the magnetic field on one side.

twice when I am infinite,

If the array is infinite, it can double the strength on one side.

while half of me negates,

Part of the array is positioned to negate the magnetic field on one side

my other inflates.

The other parts inflate the strength of the array on the other side.

You could call me an A ray,

it is an array

or maybe a sill ender,

There are halbach cylinders where the field is strong either on the inside or outside, and negated in the opposite place

but never, ever shall you call me a well rounded figure.

Not sure on this one, maybe because it is one directional and not like a stereotypical horseshoe magnet?

I can fly, or I can spin,

Can be used in magnetic levitation (fly) or electric motors (spin)

but never will I have a double end.

Not sure on this one, but it is one directional and no symmetric to any center so the ends are different (not double ended)

Hint 1:

This is the pattern of the magnetic orientation in the array and the key reason this is the correct answer

Hint 2:

It is an array of Magnets

For more info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_array

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    $\begingroup$ You may want to add an explanation to every line so that the answer is self-contained and one doesn't have to go through a wiki pass to understand the riddle... $\endgroup$
    – LinuxBlanket
    May 31, 2018 at 23:04
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks for the help! I've updated to explain more clearly and not rely on a link. $\endgroup$
    – arbitrahj
    Jun 2, 2018 at 20:02
  • $\begingroup$ Good job! And a 50 point bounty! $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    Jun 5, 2018 at 23:07
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You are an:

ARROW

Title: One directional riddle

Arrows point in one direction

I am powerful on one side,

The pointy head of an arrow is the "business" end

twice when I am infinite,

A double-headed arrow represents an infinite length

while half of me negates,

Half an arrow (i.e. the shaft, without the head) is a negative sign

my other inflates.

The head of an arrow > is a larger-than symbol

You could call me an A ray,

A ray of light is sometimes represented by an arrow
Alternatively, a mathematical array (i.e. vector) is represented by an arrow (thanks Mike Q!)

or maybe a sill ender,

The end of an arrow (i.e. the shaft) is a cylinder (thanks Mike Q!)

but never, ever shall you
call me a well rounded figure.

Arrows are pointy. Ouch!

I can fly, or I can spin,

Arrows fly when shot from a bow,
Arrows spin when in a spinner (e.g. board games)

but never will I have a double end.

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    $\begingroup$ ROT13 Neenlf (irpgbef) ner ercerfragrq ol neebjf. Na neebj'f funsg vf n plyvaqre. Neebjf ner abg qbhoyr-raqrq. $\endgroup$
    – MikeQ
    May 12, 2018 at 4:41
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    $\begingroup$ Excellent! Not correct, but a good guess! $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 12, 2018 at 21:41
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    $\begingroup$ Why this is not correct @RedwolfPrograms $\endgroup$
    – prit.patel
    May 14, 2018 at 8:41
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    $\begingroup$ @Phylyp Yes, but this answer is close, and I'm worried my idea may be "too specific" as few people may have heard of it. $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 29, 2018 at 18:19
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    $\begingroup$ Fair enough, @RedwolfPrograms $\endgroup$
    – Phylyp
    May 29, 2018 at 18:28
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Answer in progress

I think you may be a

Cone

I am powerful on one side

One side of a cone is a flat face, the other is a point. Depending on context, one side is "powerful".

twice when I am infinite

Still figuring this one out. Perhaps how if you orient two cones to touch at their points (to resemble an hourglass), it looks like the infinity symbol?

while half of me negates

One end is infinitesimally small

my other inflates.

As you move along the central axis (away from the pointed end), the radius increases

You could call me an A ray,

In cylindrical coordinates (3D and polar), you can define a cone in terms of a single vector (array)

or maybe a sill ender,

Cylinders are similar to cones. They can both be defined by a height and a (maximum) radius.

but never, ever shall you call me a well rounded figure.

Cones are not circles or spheres.

I can fly, or I can spin,

Referring to a nose cone (of an aircraft) or a spinning top

but never will I have a double end.

Cones always have two opposite ends: a pointed end and a flat end.

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  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, incorrect. But excellent reasoning! $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 12, 2018 at 3:55
  • $\begingroup$ My my, I really thought this was the answer! $\endgroup$
    – Phylyp
    May 12, 2018 at 3:59
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    $\begingroup$ wow your infinite thing was pretty amazing :O +1 $\endgroup$
    – NL628
    May 12, 2018 at 5:03
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Partial answer:

You are a:

0(zero)

I am powerful on one side

Powerful when placed on right side of any number.For ex - 1000 instead of 100

twice when I am infinite

Two zeroes juxtaposed makes the symbol of infinite(a lemniscate). 

while half of me negates

Zero is at center on number line and its left half negates.

my other inflates

Zero is at center on number line and its right half goes to infinity inflating numbers.

or maybe a sill ender

Cylinder can be circular seen from top or bottom.

but never, ever shall you, call me a well rounded figure

Because it can be elliptical too(not always a perfect circle).

I can fly, or I can spin

A balloon(is circular shape) can fly and a coin(also circular shape) can be spinned.

but never will I have a double end

Because it's a loop.

I can't relate this entity to an A ray.

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  • $\begingroup$ Nice interpretation! For negate/ inflate, maybe it's position on a number line? And sill ender... the end of a cylinder looks like a ... $\endgroup$
    – Phylyp
    May 14, 2018 at 11:31
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah I thought of that but was not confident that it can be considered. But now i will add it.@Phylyp $\endgroup$
    – prit.patel
    May 14, 2018 at 11:41
  • $\begingroup$ Hmm, not correct. $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 14, 2018 at 14:55
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my guess is

a vector
similar to arrow (given previously)
but more specific, and won't have a double end

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[Partial answer]

I think you are

A battery

I am powerful on one side,

A battery stores power but must be oriented the correct way around

twice when I am infinite,

Not sure

while half of me negates,

One end is negative (-)

my other inflates.

The other end is positive (+)

You could call me an A ray,

AA or AAA batteries

or maybe a sill ender,

AA and AAA batteries are cylinders (sill enders)

but never, ever shall you

call me a well rounded figure.

Not sure

I can fly, or I can spin,

Not sure

but never will I have a double end.

Not sure

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  • $\begingroup$ Interesting idea $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 29, 2018 at 22:34
  • $\begingroup$ Yea, I was trying to find a way to use your magnet clue. Maybe a compass? $\endgroup$
    – jmoriarty
    May 29, 2018 at 22:56
  • $\begingroup$ no, but a good idea. $\endgroup$
    – Radvylf Programs
    May 30, 2018 at 2:07
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Might this be

A motor

I am powerful on one side,

A motor runs one way, clockwise or anti. LDRUL seems to suggest anti CW rotation

twice when I am infinite,

This is one im confused with slightly. Maybe two motors together as a perpetual motion machine?

while half of me negates,

Half of the poles are negative in a motor

my other inflates.

While the other half is positive, at any time. leading to its rotation. (magnet reference)

You could call me an A ray,

an array of magnetic dipoles

or maybe a sill ender,

cylindrical in shape

but never, ever shall you

call me a well rounded figure.

the voltage required is Ac,never a fixed round value (guessing this one)

I can fly, or I can spin,

Motors can make copters fly, or spin things

but never will I have a double end.

they have only one shaft

It still doesnt feel completely right. Id thought of

magnetic and electric dipoles

but those didnt fit well either

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