Why don't perpetual motion machines ever work? - Netta Schramm
16,624,516 Views
19,208 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Perpetual motion machines — devices that can do work indefinitely without any external energy source — have captured many inventors’ imaginations because they could totally transform our relationship with energy. There’s just one problem: they don’t work. Why not? Netta Schramm describes the pitfalls of perpetual motion machines.
In this video, we focused on the first and second law of thermodynamics to explain the constraints on a perpetual motion machine. If our claim is true, it should be explainable with other frameworks such as Newton's laws. Try working it out! (hint: start with the self-watering pot.)
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Netta Schramm
- Director Jeremiah Dickey
- Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
- Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
- Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
- Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Narrator Addison Anderson
