Self-Sustaining Energy: The Arc Reactor Theory

[Artemis Fowl]

I am new to nuclear physics and i was just looking out for anything on a non-polluting, high energy source of power when i found this article on the internet about the arc reactor.
http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-theory-concept-behind-the-Miniature-Arc-Reactor-built-by-Tony-Stark
I am confused whether this is scientifically possible or if this is just the usual comic book Science fiction.

 

[mfb]

Pure science fiction, not actual science.

 

[Indi SUmmers]

Out of curiosity, if we placed a Flywheel in a vacuum, would it spin and create enough energy? And for how long?

 

[Nugatory]

Out of curiosity, if we placed a Flywheel in a vacuum, would that bastard spin and create enough energy? And for how long?

If there were really zero friction or other effects to slow it down, it would spin forever - consider that the Earth turning on its axis is a giant flywheel and it's been going strong for some billions of years now.
However, if we try to power something with the flywheel it will slow down as we extract energy from it, and we won't get any more energy out of it than what went into it to start it spinning in the first place.

(Also, please be aware that discussion of perpetual motion machines are not allowed here; this post is spared the wrath of the mentors only because you probably didn't realize that you were proposing a form of perpetual motion).

I'm closing this thread because both questions have been answered.