Why We Don’t Discuss Perpetual Motion Machines (PMM)

[arivero]

A better version would take the time to really explain why conservation of energy is such a keystone of our theories

If you're interested in writing a more in-depth Insights article as a "Part 2" to this one,

Having spoken to a number of 'over unity' zealots, I seriously doubt they would care about all this, or want to take time to understand any of it.

Problem is that some of them really measure over unity, and they just conjecture that they are extracting energy from somewhere. They do not doubt energy conservation, they just thing they have found a new source.

Explanation should address why they are measuring wrong. Most cases, as I said above, is not understanding AC (and surely they will claim to be followers of Tesla ) Some others is pre-storage of energy, either in mechanical or chemical form. Remember all the "water engines" actually burning aluminium. Some other are more subtle, when the "overunity" is one hundred of the circulating energy, then analysis is a lost cause: it can be thermal expansion, gravity doing its job, whatever.

 

[berkeman]

Aaand since we are starting to veer into debunking replies, it's probably a good time to tie this thread off.

Good Insights article -- I'm sure its link will get used a lot in the future here in the PF as we lock PMM threads by newbies.

Thanks everyone for a good discussion of the Insights article.