Can the Percentage of Energy Lost to Friction Be Negative?

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The percentage of energy lost to friction is always positive, indicating that energy is dissipated rather than gained. A negative loss would imply an addition of energy, which contradicts the laws of thermodynamics. If negative energy loss were possible, it would lead to the creation of perpetual motion machines, which are deemed impossible. Therefore, friction consistently results in energy loss, not gain. This understanding reinforces the fundamental principles of energy conservation.
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Can the % of Energy lost due to friction be negative? Or is it always positive?
 
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It is always positive. A negative loss is an addition and if that were the case, we would all have infinite motion machines that produce energy via friction. A nice idea, but impossible.

Nkk
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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