Can perpetual motion ever be obtained using the repulsion of magnets?

1. 61

   thedude4u2posted 13 years ago

   Can perpetual motion ever be obtained using the repulsion of magnets?
   
   If magnets were arranged on a wheel such that magnets on an outer ring were arranged to repulse those on the wheel with a very slight difference in the distance to create a "domino" effect of fields, continuous revolution should be able to be obtained.
   
   

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2. 81

   CWanamakerposted 13 years ago

   I highly doubt it. There are several problems here. 1) You cannot violate the laws of physics (there is no process that is 100% efficient). You will never be able to completely eliminate the affects of friction and entropy.
   
   2) Magnets have a force that is constant. This means that they cannot induce a movement of material or electrons unless the magnet also moves. This is similar to trying to use the force of gravity to create a perpetual motion device. Gravity is essentially constant as well and would require a change in strength to induce motion in an object.
   
   However, I do believe that its possible to build highly efficient machines that rely on things like solar energy to work. One day you could built something that could run for year with no additional human input. However,  it would eventually break down do to friction somewhere in the device or the natural processes of entropy.
   
   To add to your magnet theory, take a look at an electric motor. There are plenty of magnets in it arranged in a circle. When electricity is applied to the coils, the shaft rotates. Its motion is continued because the coil that the electrons travel through is constantly changing.
   
   A magnetic device like the image above would slow down down after it was started and eventually find an equilibrium point where it finally rests.  There wouldn't be enough energy left in the system to carry on the motion
   
   People have tried to make a machine like this for years, but no one has every succeeded.  And even if you could make a perpetual motion device, as soon as you tried to make it expend energy to do some work, it would shut off. You can;t get more out of the system than you put into it.

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3. 61

   thedude4u2posted 13 years ago

   CWanamaker, thanx for your response.  It's hard to explain all the specifics of  the design without a more detailed picture, but I'll try. When I refer to the magnets on the wheel they would be evenly spaced all the way around the wheel and oriented with a slight but identical angle. The magnets on the outer ring would be close (for repulsion) and parallel at the end to the ends of the magnets on the wheel.
      Spacing would be along the circumference of the outer ring such that at opposite points on the ring would be a magnet (for balance). Then at key opposite points along the outer ring would be set up more magnets and so on to create the domino effect in that part way through the spin caused by repulsion would be another set to start the repulsion over and over along the ring.
       To counter the equilibrium problem a sheild would have to be arranged in such a way as to not negate the magnetic effect.
       I know that there has been countless attempts at this over the centuries and the "Laws of Physics" are against me. However, I am an eternal optimist and feel that these LAWS ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN!  On Wikipedia when they refer to the "Laws" and how they pertain to perpetual motion they continue with   ..."successful perpetual motion devices are physically impossible in terms of our current understanding of the laws of physics".
      Maybe the laws can be changed in the future !?!?!

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