2006-08-28 09:37:50 · 16 answers · asked by A 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
in terms of perpetual motion, as in an eternal source of power? no. if it did, the world would be a much happier place.
the reason that it's technically impossible (certainly given current knowledge of physics) is that in any motion, some energy will be lost to friction through heat, sound, etc. therefore, eventually you would need to replace this energy from somewhere - i.e. through an external source of power.
think of a spinning a coin on a table. eventually, it will always stop. even if you were able to suspend it in midair in someway, it would still encounter friction against the air molecules around it, and stop. the generator would simply be encountering the same problems.
2006-08-28 09:43:34 · answer #1 · answered by blowski 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there isn't. Energy is lost through heat, sound, friction, etc. If there was a generator that powered itself, it would be useless. It would be perpetually doing the same job over and over again, because 100% of its output is going towards itself. It is physically impossible, the energy comes from somewhere. It is possible to get close, such as a spinning object in a vaccum levetated by magnets, etc. But it isn't possible to create perpetual motion at all, at least with the regulating forces on earth, such as gravity. If someone were to create a machine that used almost never weakening forces, such as gravity, but it seems to be impossible. If there were any way around it, it would have been discovered by now. The world would be much cleaner.
2006-08-28 17:01:40 · answer #2 · answered by . 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, assuming the generator powering itself is a closed system, as it would be to be a perpetual motion machine, the second law of thermodynamics will not allow the generator to keep on going ad infinitum, as the total entropy of the system will approach a maximum value over time. That is, the level of disorder in the system will reach a maximum value reducing the efficiency of the system so that having a generator that power itself will not be worthwhile.
2006-08-30 06:48:00 · answer #3 · answered by Eamon F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically a generator could power itself for a short period of time until the losses in the system drop the available power below the necessary level.
If you meant one that could go on forever, no, it does not exist. This violates the second law of thermodynamics. This is a very basic and proven principle. Not even the sun violates this law. Eventually it too will run out of energy.
Perpetual motion is a fantasy. Nothing more.
2006-08-28 18:41:18 · answer #4 · answered by Mack Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, let's say that you had a generator that put out enough amps to power an electric motor big enough to spin it. would it be possible to plug the electric motor into a power outlet to get it turning at full speed and power the generator, and then plug the motor into the generator outlet plug that is producing electricity? Or would the electric motor take more electricity than the generator could produce?
2006-08-29 01:49:47 · answer #5 · answered by biglebawski 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No to perpetual motion, However if you are asking if a generator can power its own field windings instead of using permanent magnets, then the answer is yes. This is not perpetual motion as there is still power applied to the shaft of the generator.
2006-08-29 00:06:31 · answer #6 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope as we are staying in "THE WORLD OF FRICTION".
The thing won't move if you don't push it. Because there is a friction opposing the direction (could be air friction, surface friction, magetic... etc), then the generator will eventually stop
Even if you use the Solar Power to power up a generator. You still actually have use solar power to push the generator to work.
2006-08-28 21:36:35 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Logic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually in a way the sun is a generator (of life) and it powers itself, so yes.
2006-08-28 17:29:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You received a lot of 'no' answers, which are all true IF you were asking about perpetual motion, "free" energy, and the like.
In case you were asking about actual equipment, there is such a thing as a motor/generator which can act as a motor if power is applied to the terminals or as a generator if rotation is applied to its output shaft.
2006-08-30 13:59:37 · answer #9 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In mechanical terms, you are referring to a pepetual motion device, which violates the known laws of physics. The machine would have to be 100% efficient i.e. not lose any energy through friction/resistance etc.
2006-08-28 16:45:16 · answer #10 · answered by nemesis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋