Friction always slows things down (like wheels rubbing the ground).
Air resistance pushes back on moving things (like wind).
Energy is always lost as heat or sound.
No machine is perfect — parts wear out or break.
You always need to add energy to keep something moving.
Gravity pulls things down and changes their motion.
Magnets and motors still lose energy over time.
It breaks the laws of physics, like the law of energy.
Scientists have never made one that truly works.
Even in space, there’s tiny resistance that slows things.
top of page
Explore & Learn
Search, Explore, Share & Discuss your passionate topics.
bottom of page
What would happen if a machine kept running but never needed more energy—does that sound possible? Why or why not?
Why do you think scientists keep trying to build perpetual motion machines even though they haven’t worked yet?
If you could invent a machine that never stops, what problems might you face in the real world?
How do you think energy changes form when a machine runs—can it ever be reused fully?
If something spins forever in space, does that mean it’s a perpetual motion machine? Why or why not?