• Question: explain to me the rules why a propetual motion device is imposible because i think with more balls that device you can buy could become a propetual motion device!

    Asked by lou96 to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 21 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      Hi lou96,
      Perpetual motion machines are impossible to create because they would violate the first law of thermodynamics (that energy can’t be destroyed; but only changed from one form to another) or the second law of thermodynamics (over time the amount of usable energy in a system decreases and the amount of unusable energy [entropy] in the system increases).

      Lots of machines look as if they are perpetual motion machines but they are really using some sort of ‘obscure’ energy from the environment. That hasn’t stopped lots of people trying to invent one, so if you do it, you’ll be achieving what scientists for hundreds of years couldn’t do.

      Eoin.

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      Hi Lou
      The problem with perpetual motion, is that motion requires energy, and the idea of perpetual motion is that it is a kind of movement that will continue for ever with no need for any energy input. Unfortunately this would break the laws of physics, which is why such a device is impossible.

    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      hi i think this comes down to the first law of thermodyanimics – that systems always tend towards disorder. I think though i can’t really remember!!

Comments