Perpetual motion, Leonardo da Vinci
Description
A fun model to make, with an interesting history.
Instructions
Perpetual motion doesn't seem to work, what am I doing wrong?
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The fundamental laws of physics do not prohibit perpetual motion. But properties of physical objects conspire to prevent it.
It can't work because the friction gets larger as the force gets more powerful on the axle, which makes the friction counter the extra force.
OK - I'll pay $300.00 US to anyone who can model this for me... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... I've tried for hours in sketchup, but Im a novice at best. If interested, please message me.
i made this was wondering were to get the medal bearings? also what kind of pin did u use?
The reason it doesn't work is it is almost balanced. I realize the principle is the balls roll to the outside edge to increase leverage, but with the balls closer to the center there is always MORE balls trying to be lifted. If you draw an imaginary line vertically through the center, you will see more on the left.
What about the v-gate magnetic wheel? http://youtu.be/FLek_3Hpwus - Id kill to see if this actually works...
I wonder if some sort of magnetic bearing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M... could be used to get rid of the primary friction point?
The shape of your holes are wrong. There is a youtube video somewhere that shows one that works (even if it is only for a few minutes)
Not saying that it would help much but wouldn't it be better to have an odd number of arms instead of an even number?
If you experience perpetual motion for more than 4 hours, please consult your doctor.
Just make the balls out of unobtanium and use frictionless bearings. :) or better yet have hidden air jet blowing on the wheel. Maybe some electronic whiz could. Set up an oscillating magnetic field to drive it.
perpetual motion is like saying your creating something out of nothing, all the same it looks like a good object to be placed on a work desk and can spin when you get bored at work, great toy
The reason that it is not working at all is this: you have 2 points of friction in the model, the centre Axel and the ball bearings rolling. The first has a LOT of friction so it is using up all of the energy almost instantly. If you fix that with a ball bearing (as suggested below) then that would dramatically increase the spin time.
But do remember, IT WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SPIN FOREVER! As many people have mentioned perpetual motion is impossible. This is because, sadly, no matter how hard we try, friction will always exist. :), (however in computer simulations, it doesn't)
I love how most of the comments are about how perpetual motion is impossible.
Clarke's Three Laws
1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
#1: Did you use phi as a ratio in the design? #2: Magnetic balls with two magnets at the bottom on either side of the wheel... to y'know, boost it till the magnets wear out? #3: Coral Castle in Florida. Code144.
His has 12 balls, yours only has 8. Could that be it? I would use a bearing in the middle though!
It obviously doesn't work because you printed it in white. I believe safety cone orange or bright green are required for perpetual motion...
did you try it with slighter heavier bearings? if i am not wrong, the perpetual motion is possible if the center of gravity of the entire combination of the wheel and the bearings is always closer to the circumference and to one side. Perhaps a math simulation for actually tracing the movement of the center of gravity is called for :D
You aren't doing anything wrong. Your only problem is that perpetual motion is impossible because it violates the laws of thermodynamics.
A ball bearing in the center would increase the spin time dramatically I'm sure. The sleeve bearing has a ton of friction.
It might be interesting to put a low friction bearing in the center...
nice but can't work, the enrgy needed to lift the ball from the low place to the up one is the same than the enrgy you can get from the up place to the low one <; the sum is zero so it can turn
if it can there would be no energy shortage anywhere
it would be interesting to glue the balls in place on one wheel, and let them roll on another wheel, and with the same force applied, see the difference in decceleration times. could be an interesting math problem to prove/disprove inertia math.
License

Hello,
I believe that if you have an exact same wheel, you place it next the other one in oppesite direction. Make the balls go from one wheel to the other when they are on a low point.