Why is this not a perpetual motion machine?

In summary, this picture is a joke and there is no real possibility of it being a perpetual motion machine.
  • #1
TheJCBand
11
0
So a friend of mine posted this picture on my facebook wall. I assume there is some kind of inside joke involved that I'm not on the inside of. Anyways, I can't see any reason why this setup is impossible.
 

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  • #2
Even if the magnet were able to make a fluid flow through a pipe like that (which it is not) and that the wheel generator worked at a 100% efficiency the contraption would still consume more electrical energy than it can produce, so yes, it is not perpetual motion.

In fact, you can conclude that even without looking at the drawing or knowing any details on the machine, as all physical realizable motions that involve even the tiniest bit of friction or drag belong to the class of non-perpetual motion.
 
  • #3
sure it will work..if the fluid is CRUDE OIL,,,plenty of it left in good old mother EARTH...
 
  • #4
Why would the fluid fall back down if there is a magnet pulling it up?
 
  • #5
russ_watters said:
Why would the fluid fall back down if there is a magnet pulling it up?

Also if it is powerful enough to pull it up, why would it only pull it up through the pipe in the first place.
 
  • #6
In order for that concept to work, you would need an electromagnet that could be switched on and off to raise the fluid and then let it fall down again. The power used by the electromagnet would be greater than that you make from the waterwheel.
 
  • #7
Rust?
 
  • #8
Something doesn't seem right about the idea that the fluid near the magnet falls, while the fluid up the pipe, which is further, rises.

The upstream and the downstream both seem to be equivalent. They both perceive the same gravity, but the (assumed) rising one is 1. further from the magnet, and 2. suffers friction from the pipe walls.
 
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  • #9
General rule with any magnet-based perpetual motion machine: If the magnet is strong enough to pull something up, it won't let it fall. The magnetic force goes up as a function of distance much faster than gravity does.
 
  • #10
The most efficient machines that have been produced are transformers. They only top about 90%. You still have loss due to resistance in the wire.
 

1. Why is it impossible to create a perpetual motion machine?

A perpetual motion machine is a hypothetical machine that can continue to operate indefinitely without any external energy source. This contradicts the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Therefore, it is impossible to create a perpetual motion machine as it would violate this fundamental law.

2. Can't we just use magnets or gravity to create a perpetual motion machine?

No, even with the use of magnets or gravity, a perpetual motion machine is still impossible. While these forces can produce continuous motion, they are not self-sustaining and would eventually lose energy and stop functioning. Additionally, the energy required to create and maintain a perpetual motion machine would far exceed the energy it could produce.

3. What about perpetual motion machines that claim to run on "zero-point energy" or other alternative energy sources?

There is currently no evidence to support the existence of zero-point energy or other alternative energy sources that could power a perpetual motion machine. Many of these claims are based on pseudoscience and have not been scientifically proven. The laws of thermodynamics still apply, making a perpetual motion machine impossible.

4. But what if we could eliminate all friction and resistance in the machine?

While reducing friction and resistance can increase efficiency, it cannot eliminate the need for an external energy source. In fact, the only way to completely eliminate friction and resistance would be to create a vacuum, which would require energy to maintain. Additionally, the materials used in the machine would still experience wear and tear over time, leading to a decrease in efficiency.

5. Has anyone ever successfully created a perpetual motion machine?

No, despite numerous attempts throughout history, no one has ever been able to create a perpetual motion machine that actually works. Many have been debunked as hoaxes or misunderstandings of basic physics principles. While we continue to make advancements in technology, a perpetual motion machine remains outside the realm of possibility.

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