Question:
Is Earth and the motion of our solar system a perpetual motion machine?
Craig
2012-06-05 10:10:06 UTC
I ask this because after looking into some forums, about a self powered generator, ( perpetual motion ) and a comments about the laws of physics that many say it is not possible. I understand that the amount of power you apply from a source to a generator is going to decrease as result of resistance and friction thus eventually not producing enough power to turn the generator. But to myself and many others this does not seem impossible. I understand that yes we can use water turbines and wind turbines to turn the generator but I don't have a river in my backyard ( possibly) underground but not known at this time. And purchasing a wind turbine to completely take my home off of the grid is not affordable. I understand that if you use a small motor to run a larger generator and try to increase the rpm of the generator that you are in Essenes increasing friction of the generator thus reducing power, although increasing voltage you reduce amps. And i believe that is the nut that needs cracked ? Would it be possible to use a wind turbine of a much smaller scale and a torque amplifier to drive the generator? A common mechanical device such as a chain fall or pulley system kind of sorta breaks the law of physics by applying less power to achieve more power so why could this not be applied to a wind turbine? I realize there is a gear box in an actual big wind turbine that does this but I dont want to make power for the world all at once just for each household. IF it can be produced for the world why cant the average household produce enough for itself without breaking the bank with setup ? Sorry about the headline question not being very relevant to the actual question but ive been alive for 31 years and the earth hasn't stopped spinning yet, that's perpetual motion enough for me, now how do I make it pay my electric bills? If nothing else I hope this inspires someone with more knowledge to not say its impossible but to find a way around it. Make a machine thats affordable by the average consumer to purchase.
Six answers:
2012-06-05 10:23:24 UTC
First, consider that the more complex the system is the more friction which lowers efficiency.

Second, the primary concern of wind power is the intermittent aspect. Wind farms even face this by having to address "what happens when the wind dies down" and also "what happens when the wind increase past the structural max"?

Third, yes wind power certainly can power a generator. In fact the large wind turbines you see in wind farms have a generator in the fan nacelle.



An interesting thought is your concept of storing power using a chain fall. Possibly consider a spring wound mechanism? Both are old-tech used in grandfather clocks for centuries so the dynamics are well known and very searchable.
John W
2012-06-07 21:38:07 UTC
Have you noticed how only one side of the moon faces us? It's tidal locked, the Earth is also in the process of tidal locking to the moon, you see that every day in the tides as being fluid, they are the first part to be tidal locked. The Earth is actually slowing down in it's rotation because of the energy dispersed in the tides. This energy can and is tapped through tidal generation power plants. The orbit of the Earth is actually expanding due to the light pressure from the Sun. The orbits of the Earth and Moon are certainly not a perpetual motion machine and there is no such thing as a perpetual motion machine. However celestial motion are of very large masses and it takes a very long time for changes to happen. To a certain extent, the Earth will always be moving but it will not always be in the same way. A perpetual motion machine can never maintain it's state forever, you may be able to derive something that will be stable for some time but it isn't a perpetual motion machine, not even close. Patents are cleared by a bureaucratic process, just having a patent does not imply that it actually works, just that specific measures have been taken to document the idea and to ensure that it does not conflict with an existing patent. There are no devices that breaks the laws of physics, if you think that something does, your comprehension of the device is flawed. Pulleys give you a mechanical advantage but it doesn't produce anything, for the greater force, you have to pull more string, it's like the difference between heavy work for a half hour versus light work for four hours. The same is true of gear boxes, nothing is created only changed.
2016-07-14 14:47:27 UTC
First there's no friction in area (or very very little) and no wind resistance. An orbit isn't perpetual motion but has to do with momentum, velocity and centripetal force. Folks had been trying to make perpetual motion work for a long time. I wont tell you it wont work for the reason that nobody can show it wont work. I do not consider anybody both in relation to science and that i pick to believe best what i will be able to show to myself as being truth. I thought about this and that i got here to the conclusion that it wont work in view that the magnetic subject is not a directional force. Consider of a gear with tooth. There are high spots and low spots on the tooth. The magnetic discipline will behave the identical method and the propellers of the windmill will simply go in between two of the tooth and will discontinue. This venture is already online someplace just look for a even as and you'll to find anything very equivalent that did not work. Additional: I used to be pronouncing it are not able to be validated within the philisophical case. The earth is flat, the earth is on the center of the universe. Bla bla bla. Science is like an historical blanket. Filled with holes and patches. Nothing is specified. And i'm a chemist and basement physicist so i know your argument.
Hoover the GOPer
2012-06-05 11:01:03 UTC
The earth is actually slowing down and slipping out of its orbit as we speak. Tidal forces are doing the work. The earth is not rigid and is constantly changing shape due to the uneven pull of gravity of the sun on the earth-moon system.



Idealizing this situation, a (rigid) object orbiting another rigid object is perfectly stable. There is no net energy entering or leaving the system. Energy isn't being created or destroyed. There is nothing to slow things down so it will orbit forever. Same is true for rotating bodies--again, assuming they're rigid.



You seem to want to get something for nothing. It's not going to happen. Many have tried. None have succeeded.
?
2012-06-05 10:28:53 UTC
Anytime you say "perpetual motion" my answer is: 2nd law of thermodynamics says no. You will never get more energy out than you put in. YOU WILL NEVER GET MORE ENERGY OUT THAN YOU PUT IN. let me say that one more time: You Will Never Get More Energy Out Than You Put In.



You can get more "torque" but you will turn at a MUCH slower rate. Its like the gears of a car, 1st gear you have "power" and can burn the tires but can't go above 20 miles an hour. 6th gear you can go 90 mph but can't accelerate.



The earth continues to spin because of Newtons laws of motion: An object in motion will stay in motion. Nothing is trying to stop the earth from spinning so it will continue to spin.
Genegee
2012-06-05 10:30:46 UTC
Yes it is in perpetual motion. As for your wind generator may l suggest you contact Mother Earth News out of Ashville, North Carolina. l use to subscribe to their magazine for years. With all the projects they done and plans they drew up to help people who wanted to do things like you desire to do, it would be a good match. l was wanting to make alcohol legally to use in a car, 250 gallons at one time, they had a plan for a still, what stopped me was that l had to own the land outright so that the government can take it if l mess up, otherwise l would be driving a car costing me about 35cents per gallon.for fuel. Get this l was also allowed to sell it to other car owners who had their car set up to run on alcohol. Good luck.


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