College of Engineering Unit:
A perpetual motion machine is a device that, once activated, continues to function perpetually without any external energy input. The idea of perpetual motion has been explored by man as early as the 12th century, and despite a countless number of attempts, has never been accomplished. We now know, by the first and second laws of thermodynamics, that achieving perpetual motion is unattainable. Although the concept of perpetual motion has been proven impossible, our team has been tasked with creating a machine that convinces its audience otherwise.
The scope of this project will be centered around designing and building a device that appears to be moving perpetually, but in reality, is operated by a well-hidden power source. Additionally, the device should be no larger than 12”x12”x12”, and be built with inexpensive, readily available materials to ensure its ability to be manufactured in volume. As it has been proven that perpetual motion machines are unattainable, the real solution that we seek to find is how to hide a mechanism and its required power source that allows us to achieve the illusion of perpetual motion.
Our final design is The Perpetual Teeter Totter. In this concept, there are two magnets attached to each end of a teeter totter, each with a corresponding magnet of the same polarity attached to its base. This concept makes it look like the repelling force of the magnets keep this machine in motion but in reality, the magnets attached to the base are electromagnets that turn on and off to repel the teeter totter as it approaches each side. The methodically timed repelling force of the electromagnets keeps the teeter totter in motion.
