What Are the Odds of a Perfect Machine? Perpetual Motion Possibilities

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impossibility of creating a perpetual motion machine (PMM), which fundamentally violates the laws of physics, particularly the three laws of thermodynamics. Participants emphasize that while electric heaters can achieve 100% efficiency, true perpetual motion is unattainable. Key violations include Newton's laws of motion, Ohm's law, Archimedes' principle, and Lenz's law. Resources for further reading on the topic are provided, highlighting the consensus that PMMs are pseudoscientific and not feasible.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the three laws of thermodynamics
  • Familiarity with Newton's laws of motion
  • Knowledge of Ohm's law
  • Awareness of Archimedes' principle and Lenz's law
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the three laws of thermodynamics in detail
  • Explore the implications of Newton's laws of motion in mechanical systems
  • Study Ohm's law and its applications in electrical engineering
  • Investigate the principles of energy harvesting devices and their efficiencies
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, engineers, and anyone interested in the principles of energy efficiency and the fundamental laws governing motion and energy transfer.

Ethan_Tab
Messages
57
Reaction score
2
What are the odds that humans will come up with a 100% (or extremely close to) efficient machine within the next couple centuries. If so, what principle do you think it would work on? How about a perpetual motion machine?

Share your thoughts.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Perpetual motion machines would violate the laws of physics and are thus completely impossible. They will never happen.

However many electric heaters are exactly 100% efficient and energy harvesting devices can have coefficients of performance of well above 1:1.
 
russ_watters said:
Perpetual motion machines would violate the laws of physics and are thus completely impossible. They will never happen.

In what ways would a perpetual machine violate the laws of physics?
 
Ethan_Tab said:
In what ways would a perpetual machine violate the laws of physics?
The three laws of thermodynamics describe the general problems (and the PMM wiki describes the associated violations) and many claimed PMMS are not well enough developed to take further. But for ones that are, the violations can be anything. Common ones include Newton's laws of motion, Ohms law Archemede's principle and Lentz's law.
 
Ethan_Tab said:
In what ways would a perpetual machine violate the laws of physics?

PMMs are on the Banned Topics list in the PF Rules (see Info at the top of the page). We list some website that are good resources for your further reading outside of the PF.

micromass said:
Banned Topics -- Pseudoscience, such as (but not limited to):

Perpetual motion and "free energy" discussions
http://wiki.4hv.org/index.php/Free_Energy_Debunking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion
http://www.skepdic.com/freeenergy.html
http://www.skepdic.com/perpetual.html
 

Similar threads

Undergrad What's the trick to this "perpetual" marble device?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • Sticky
Insights Why We Don’t Discuss Perpetual Motion Machines (PMM)
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
15K
Graduate Is a Superfluid Perpetual Motion Machine Theoretically Possible?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Graduate Perpetual motion machines can't exist (Feynman's lectures)
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
Undergrad Connection between entropy and time travel?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Why not to discuss Perpetual Motion Machines? Is Politics Involved?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
5K
Do You Call a Plumber if Washing Machine is Dripping Water in Tub?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
7K
Graduate What is the Perpetual Motion Machine using Magnets?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Can Energy Be Saved When Using an Air Pump to Lift a 5kg Weight?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Why perpetual motion machine wouldn't work.
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K