2006-07-13 04:01:46 · 18 answers · asked by ? 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Please assume that:
1. The slinky is lined up perfectly and never travels in anything other than a straight line.
2. The slinky always lands perfectly in the middle of each step.
3. The slinky and escalator travel as the same speed.
4. The slinky never changes speed.
5. The escalator is fully maintained.
2006-07-13 04:08:14 · update #1
no, because something must drive the escalator.
2006-07-13 04:03:17 · answer #1 · answered by jimvalentinojr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it, but several assumptions have to be made:
1. The slinky is lined up perfectly and never travels in anything other than a straight line.
2. The slinky always lands perfectly in the middle of each step.
3. The slinky and escalator travel as the same speed.
4. The slinky never changes speed.
5. The slinky gains the exact amount of kinetic energy from the fall to the next step that it lost as it began it's travel to the next step.
2006-07-13 04:06:25 · answer #2 · answered by Icy U 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
The slinky is not 100% efficient.
If you placed the slinky on the escalator it would not move down the escalator. You need to push it. It is this kinetic energy that starts the process and without extra energy being entered into the system the slinky will eventually stop.
It might take a very long time to stop but it will stop eventually.
Everything does. Even the planets revolving around the Sun.
Everything dies. The only constant is finality.
2006-07-20 03:49:09 · answer #3 · answered by Fatboy_Howie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the first guy said - something needs to drive the escalator. If the power's to cut out, the slinky goes to the bottom of the escalator and stops.
Also, the escalator's got hundreds of moving parts that require maintenance. If something breaks down and the escalator stops or slows down, the whole thing goes ****-up.
So the question you're asking really is: is an escalator a perpetual motion machine? The answer is no.
2006-07-13 04:06:07 · answer #4 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The slinky will continuously move. True.
But 'perpetual motion' is a loaded term. A 'perpetual motion machine' is something that creates the energy of motion from within itself.
In this case, that's not true, because the energy to drive the escalator is coming from an outside source.
2006-07-13 06:27:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would have to make both the slinky and the escalator perfect in every sense, then it probably would. By perfect I mean perfect materials in the metal spring (no weak or less bendy spots etc), perfect surface to the steps so nothing could snag the slinky, perfect motion so no jerks disrupt the flow, and no outside influences such as heat, wind, etc. Somewhat impossible to test without spending a few £million I shouldn't wonder!
2006-07-13 04:07:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would not attain perpetual motion as this would require the kinetic energy of the slinky to drive the escalator up whilst maintaing its downward motion. You could theoretically achieve virtual overall vertical stasis for the slinky which I guess would look cool but have no actual purpose.
2006-07-13 04:08:29 · answer #7 · answered by Git 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not listen to the people who have a rational explanation for this, i have done it and it works just fine, me and my cousin pete were at the mall and we noticed that the escalator was traveling awful close to the slinky speed as it was traveling down grandmother's staircase yesterday, so we put two and two together and thought to ourselves, "if that escalator is moving as fast as a slinky you know what this means??" pete replies , "it means that we should go and get some of those uber good soft pretzels from the cute lady in the tight shirt at the cafe!!" so i says to the poor sap, " no, it means that we should go get some pretzels and then drop them in front of the cute lady's counter so she will have to bend over in front of us to clean up the mess, this is the best plan i have ever done did had!!"
2006-07-14 07:27:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your first answer is correct. perpetual motion is a closed system that can continue forever without outside influence.
the excalator has an outside power source.
in theory the slinky could go forever (given your 5 conditions) but that wouldn't be considered perpetual motion.
2006-07-13 05:26:32 · answer #9 · answered by Yo. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if the slinky is powering the escalator . . .
2006-07-13 04:07:15 · answer #10 · answered by szydkids 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perpetual motion implies it does not need external source of energy, however the escalator needs electricity to run.
2006-07-17 06:51:17 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋