A magnet that won't stop spinning?

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The discussion centers on the concept of a horseshoe magnet fixed to a coil, which some believe could create perpetual motion by continuously spinning. However, participants clarify that this idea violates the law of conservation of energy, as the magnet does not provide a continuous power source. The internal forces within the magnet-coil system cancel each other out, preventing any sustained motion. A comparison is made to the impossibility of lifting oneself by pulling on shoelaces, illustrating the fundamental misunderstanding of internal versus external forces. Ultimately, the consensus is that the proposed setup cannot achieve perpetual motion due to these physical principles.
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A magnet that won't stop spinning??

what happens if a horseshoe magnet is fixed to a a coil such that there is a constant field through the coil?? The initial torque due to the field will spin the coil,but since the magnet is connected to the coil,it will keep sending a field through the coil at the same angle,further spinning the coil and then the process continues...the coil-magnet apparatus will keep on spinning. Isn't this possible??
 
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By Jove! I think you've got something! Now, run with it!
 


No, clearly this violates conservation of energy, so it won't work.
 


Why would it violate the law of conservation of energy?The magnet is the source of energy.We are simply using the energy provided by the magnet.No energy is being "magically produced".
 


No, nagnets do not expend energy by exerting a static force. A magnet is no more a source of continuous power than a spring.

Perhaps if you drew yourself a picture you'd see that what you are suggesting is like lifting yourself off the ground by pulling on your own shoelaces.
 


But where does the magnet-coil model fail?What would actually happen if the set up is made and placed in a zero gravity environment.As long as the the magnet exerts force,the coil would spin.
 


Nothing will happen. It will not spin because there is no external force to spin it.
 


Hmm..but if the magnet were to be detached for a split second,it would spin.That brings me to a more fundamental question-why is there such a big difference between internal and external forces in this case?Why doesn't the internal force in the attached apparatus do anything?After all,it is a field through a magnet[is it because the coil applies an equal and opposite force?]
 
  • #10


ARAVIND113122 said:
Hmm..but if the magnet were to be detached for a split second,it would spin.That brings me to a more fundamental question-why is there such a big difference between internal and external forces in this case?Why doesn't the internal force in the attached apparatus do anything?After all,it is a field through a magnet[is it because the coil applies an equal and opposite force?]

What do you mean "spin"? What you are trying to describe just won't work. You are trying to create perpetual motion.
 
  • #11


By spin ,i mean that the coil will rotate so as to minimize magnetic flux through it.
Then again,why wouldn't the magnet-coil apparatus spin-is it because an equal force would be exerted by the coil,thus cancelling out torque due to the magnet?
 
  • #12


ARAVIND113122 said:
By spin ,i mean that the coil will rotate so as to minimize magnetic flux through it.
Then again,why wouldn't the magnet-coil apparatus spin-is it because an equal force would be exerted by the coil,thus cancelling out torque due to the magnet?

Yes. If the coil is correctly orientated within the magnet then there is certainly a torque ,due to the current, acting on the coil. For this same orientation and current direction however, the coil itself will induce it's own magnetic poles, which are perpendicular to the main magnet poles and with a N-S polarity directed so as to produce a counter torque on the main magnet.
 
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  • #13
ARAVIND113122 said:
That brings me to a more fundamental question-why is there such a big difference between internal and external forces in this case?Why doesn't the internal force in the attached apparatus do anything?
Internal forces always sum to zero. Try this:

Sit on a swivel chair.
Grab your left shoulder with your right hand.
Pull.

Do you start to spin?
 
  • #14


oh yes! i have realized my mistake! i had not thought about the opposite magnetic field.thank you very much
 
  • #15


russ_watters said:
Internal forces always sum to zero. Try this:

Sit on a swivel chair.
Grab your left shoulder with your right hand.
Pull.

Do you start to spin?

I've been sitting in my office chair trying this for a while now and can't seem to do it.

Am I doing it wrong? Do I pull or push my shoulder?
 
  • #16


nitsuj said:
I've been sitting in my office chair trying this for a while now and can't seem to do it.

Am I doing it wrong? Do I pull or push my shoulder?

Is this sarcasm? If so haha, if not it won't work anymore than reaching down and pulling your legs up will make you rise.
 
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