The laws of thermodynamics state that a perpetual motion machine is 'impossible', yet the Universe has been in motion for quite some time!
Can the Universe be considered a perpetual motion machine?
2007-02-19 05:01:19 · 10 answers · asked by Ammy 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Insofar as we know the answer is positively NO.
Any perpetual motion machine should run for an infinite time. This appears not to be for the universe. F.I. all moving bodies
of the universe do produce gravitational waves, which will dissipate to heat. At the end in a lot of billions yoars the universe will be static, cold dark and probably still expanding to almost
nothing....Everything comes to an end...sooner or later.
2007-02-19 05:11:51 · answer #1 · answered by giorgio s 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The notion of a "perpetual motion machine" is one of a machine that produces work without raising the entropy of the overall system. The entropy of the universe is constantly rising as it is, so whether or not the universe is "doing work", it's not a "perpetual motion machine". Does that mean it'll someday "wind down"? No, there's nothing in the laws of thermodynamics that says that entropy has to stop rising at some point in time. It can continue to rise indefinitely, and the universe may theoretically go on indefinitely as well, even though in the extremely far future it will look unrecognizable to us today.
2007-02-19 06:11:34 · answer #2 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A PMM isn't really a machine that runs for ever. (The name is a little misleading.) A bullet in empty space would travel forever. (Space isn't empty, so gravity would change the bullet's speed. But the idea itself, a bullet going forever, is not what is meant by a perpetual motion machine.)
A PMM keeps going AND provides energy output. That is, it could be generating electricity all by itself without running down. A PMM is a machine which gives off energy without having an equal or greater amount put in. Back to the bullet: if the bullet kept up its speed while pushing through paddle wheels that generated electricity along the way, THEN the bullet would be a PMM. (In our universe, we believe that the bullet would lose (at least) 1 J of kinetic energy for each joule of electrical energy generated.
Answer to your question: The universe is NOT a perpetual motion machine because it is not giving off energy for free (to any other universe, presumably!).
ON THE OTHER HAND: Since recent studies show that the galaxies appear to be speeding up, there is something serious that we don't understand. So, perhaps, all bets are off!
2007-02-19 05:27:34 · answer #3 · answered by Rob S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the whole universe is like an equation things balance out that make our world possible. but yet in space, the rules kind of bend a little and yet the equation is not balance the universe is not the ultimate motion machine because there is more than just a universe. And energy is not the only thing that can make the motion continue. There are other elements too.
2016-05-24 09:54:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gotcha in your statement is the meaning of the word machine. The universe most like is in perpetual motion.
2007-02-19 05:24:46 · answer #5 · answered by Fred 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the "UNIVERSE" is not-a-thing-it does not come or go-is not big or small-was not born does not die. The universe is the beginning and the end. Things form (are born) out of this beginning (universe) -have duration and will eventually "die"-but the very fabric/material-the universe itself IS perpetual motion or permanent impermanence. The paradox is resolved-consistent inconsistence. Constant difference implies sameness. The fabric/material -the very universe itself-right before your very eyes,ears,nose and mouth-infinitetly arranges and rearranges itself in a multitude of shapes and forms never endingly.
2015-02-18 04:37:50 · answer #6 · answered by Brad 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be possible only if the energy lost by the system can be resused again to cause the motion.
The 3 laws of thermosdynamics can be summed up in a simple statement; "You cannot get anything for nothing without paying a price"So the evolution of the Universe is really a system which degrades with time and would have to be replenished from external source to bring it back up to Par.You can say the Universe gets "tired"
In short ;if you want your donkey to do work again you have to feed him. He will not do work continuously without being fed "new food"
2007-02-19 05:19:29 · answer #7 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just because we can't see the universe slowing down, it is. THe earths rotation is slowing down due to the Moon. In a few hundred thousand years, a day will be 26 hours long.
Eventually the universe will slow down and possibly contract back into itself....100 billion years maybe...
2007-02-19 05:16:19 · answer #8 · answered by froalskiner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The law of thermodynamics is a creature of the Universe, but the Universe is not governed by it.
2007-02-19 05:09:40 · answer #9 · answered by Sabya 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the universe might last a long time, but it to will stop eventually.
even a spinning black hole will eventually radiate itself away into nothingness. in the end the universe will be nothing but a few vague whisps and a lot of empty space
2007-02-21 11:46:01 · answer #10 · answered by Tim C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋