I have attempted to design perpetual motion machines, so perhaps I can tell you something about the motivations involved. First of all, it is fun and educational. Each time I designed a perpetual motion machine, I learned something new about physics that I wasn’t taught in school. This is probably not the motivation of someone who has actually tried to build one though.
Secondly, I have some doubts about the Second Law of Thermodynamics. It is almost assuredly not itself a law of physics, but rather of statistics; it is in a sense at best redundant. To my knowledge, there is not a single perpetual motion machine that cannot be shown not to work without invoking the laws of thermodynamics. I consider my existence to be proof or at least strong evidence that at some point the Second Law doesn’t hold—it seems incompatible with universe creation or recycling for eternity under increasing entropy.
Thirdly, I hate and despise the consequences of the laws of thermodynamics. The end of all life and civilization. The most certain threat to humanity’s existence. Sure, in the unimaginably distant future, but it still bugs me.
Fourth, the idea of doing something really big that will make you famous. Note that worthy problems are really hard to find. I do like to poke at famous or impossible problems, though personally only attempt perpetual motion for educational purposes.
PS: my current best design for a perpetual motion machine, of the first type, is hollowed out permanent magnets plus a magnetic monopole. Note that some physicists seem to think magnetic monopoles might exist. It would have to be a fundamental particle though, as it can’t be constructed from magnetic dipoles or electric monopoles. A similar design could be constructed from electrical monopoles and fundamental electric dipoles that can be held in a given orientation. Note that although “electric dipoles” are very common, they are not fundamental, they are made of electric monopoles, and the field inside them is incredibly strong and in the opposite direction. Active research is being done in an attempt to find a dipole moment for fundamental particles, so far with no luck. Unless my design has errors, it means that any attempt to find those is doomed to failure as a violation of conservation of energy.
Thinking about it some more, for me perpetual motion machine design is a special case of noticing I am confused. Specifically, that I hold the contradictory beliefs, “perpetual motion machines are to an incredibly high level of certainty impossible” and “my current understanding of [branch of physics] suggests I could build a perpetual motion machine”. Then the perpetual motion machine design functions as a formal, step-by-step analysis so I can identify exactly where I think I’m breaking one of the laws of physics. Similarly, if I can’t even formulate a design, not only am I confused but my understanding is too vague to apply to specific circumstances.
I have attempted to design perpetual motion machines, so perhaps I can tell you something about the motivations involved. First of all, it is fun and educational. Each time I designed a perpetual motion machine, I learned something new about physics that I wasn’t taught in school. This is probably not the motivation of someone who has actually tried to build one though.
Secondly, I have some doubts about the Second Law of Thermodynamics. It is almost assuredly not itself a law of physics, but rather of statistics; it is in a sense at best redundant. To my knowledge, there is not a single perpetual motion machine that cannot be shown not to work without invoking the laws of thermodynamics. I consider my existence to be proof or at least strong evidence that at some point the Second Law doesn’t hold—it seems incompatible with universe creation or recycling for eternity under increasing entropy.
Thirdly, I hate and despise the consequences of the laws of thermodynamics. The end of all life and civilization. The most certain threat to humanity’s existence. Sure, in the unimaginably distant future, but it still bugs me.
Fourth, the idea of doing something really big that will make you famous. Note that worthy problems are really hard to find. I do like to poke at famous or impossible problems, though personally only attempt perpetual motion for educational purposes.
PS: my current best design for a perpetual motion machine, of the first type, is hollowed out permanent magnets plus a magnetic monopole. Note that some physicists seem to think magnetic monopoles might exist. It would have to be a fundamental particle though, as it can’t be constructed from magnetic dipoles or electric monopoles. A similar design could be constructed from electrical monopoles and fundamental electric dipoles that can be held in a given orientation. Note that although “electric dipoles” are very common, they are not fundamental, they are made of electric monopoles, and the field inside them is incredibly strong and in the opposite direction. Active research is being done in an attempt to find a dipole moment for fundamental particles, so far with no luck. Unless my design has errors, it means that any attempt to find those is doomed to failure as a violation of conservation of energy.
Thinking about it some more, for me perpetual motion machine design is a special case of noticing I am confused. Specifically, that I hold the contradictory beliefs, “perpetual motion machines are to an incredibly high level of certainty impossible” and “my current understanding of [branch of physics] suggests I could build a perpetual motion machine”. Then the perpetual motion machine design functions as a formal, step-by-step analysis so I can identify exactly where I think I’m breaking one of the laws of physics. Similarly, if I can’t even formulate a design, not only am I confused but my understanding is too vague to apply to specific circumstances.