perpetual energy (power, electric, electricity, Opera)

[stycotl]

so, anyone have any ideas? if so, share them.

i'll share mine. i came up with this idea when i was in high school:





it is probably far-fetched, but after brainstorming over the problem, i decided that perpetual energy would need to use electromagnetic force. therefore, i figured that if we could get a series of magnets to spin a wheel with a dynamo in it, we could generate electricity indefinitely.

note the first page of my sketchbook, the illustration at the bottom. the wheel is actually a series of arms with smaller magnets at the end. my theory was that the larger magnets in the outer casing of the generator would push against the smaller magnets in the wheel.

unfortunately, i am afraid that reality would not allow us to place the magnets in such a way that they would be able to push a wheel in one direction without opposing it in the other. not to mention the fact that without any sort of electricity to begin with, i doubt that we could create a strong enough field in order to push anything like that.

but, it was a fun brainstorm.

your turn.

aaron out.

[coosjoaquin]

You'll keep on losing energy from air resistance and friction so what will happen is that after giving it an initial push, it will slow down and stop.

[swarthmore89]

It's a cool idea, but perpetual motion just doesn't work. A lot people think that the electromagnetic force is perpetual and therefore would never stop. However, it is governed by the same energy laws as all of the other forces: in order to get a constant supply of energy, you need to supply constant energy.

[Tek_Freek]

This reminded me of an article I saw that talked about a company that is making revolving doors that have generators in the floor/ceiling. When shoppers go through them they generate electricity. Made me wonder how many customers a day it would take to generate enough power to make it worth installing.

I wonder if utilizing the same idea in down escalators would work. Instead of powering it, let the weight of the passengers pull it down and run generators at the top and bottom.

Nice sketches, even if it won't work. You have talent.

[johnrex62]

I think I saw that elevator concept on the Flintstones. If you dont have enough people, just add rocks.

I wonder if his idea would become closer to workable if the magnets were electro magnets operating off solar panels that were laid out to be interupted by the pinwheel blocking the light in the correct sequence to permit the magnets to operate in a specific pattern, thus overcoming the opposing poles and competing forces against the forward momentum of the pinwheel? Naturally this adds another energy source to the picture, but in an obscure enough way to fool most of the rubes.

[coosjoaquin]

I've made designs for a prototype perpetual revolving door:



I haven't worked out all the kinks yet but positive criticism would be welcomed

[tallrick]

Even if possible, perpetual motion is only good for a show. It would otherwise be fundamentally useless. Instead we should find ways of tying in to the forces that power the earth- solar, wind, geothermal, and maybe the rotational/gravitational forces of the universe. That is where the future lies.

[twixcookie]

Harvest those little strings from string theories...they are perpetually vibrating according to the theorists.

[harry chickpea]

Start two opposing religions. If the sparks between them aren't perpetual, it'll seem like it.

[sterlinggirl]

Can we just put a methane collector system on the capitol building?