Question Is a magnet powered perpetual motion device now possible?
What with the recent invention of a material that blocks magnetic waves, will it now be possible to create a perpetual motion device that is powered by magnets. My understanding of why previous attempts at magnet powered perpetual motion devices didn't work, is that the magnets after they have pushed say a wheel, always then pull the wheel at some point in the cycle, cancelling out the previous creation of motion. So now we can create a focused magnetic field which in effect is like having a monopole magnet, can we direct this on to a wheel containing a focused magnet field of opposite polarity, and many of these little interactions on a large scale would create wheel that just gets pushed faster and faster. I don't think this breaks any of the laws of physics because it's not really free energy, it's the energy from the magnet, eventually it would run out. Or is my understanding of it all just rubbish? Here's the article about the magnetic field shield. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15017479 Ahh, i get it, what I was imagining is a slanted beam of magnetic field, but as soon as the field is free of the blocking material it would loose it's aim and just sort of spill out. Which would then equally push the wheel and pull it as it passed. Still at least we can use the magnetic shield to get things past metal detectors.....although I probably shouldn't joke about that what with our increasing "big brother" problem.

Best Answer No. The magnetic field is still conservative. Your understanding is correct. While you can create an area of lower magnetic forces, you will also be increasing the strength prior to that area. So as the wheel comes around, it's pushed backward harder before it gets to that point. Or perhaps you think, these won't be static fields. They'll be electronically powered. It won't help. If there is already an object in the area you want reduced, simply establishing the necessary field will require energy that negates any savings you get. "I don't think this breaks any of the laws of physics because it's not really free energy, it's the energy from the magnet, eventually it would run out." Magnets don't contain energy. You can transfer potential energy into and out of a magnetic field, but it's not coming from or going into the magnet.

Question Can you explain why thefollowing device doesn't act as a perpetual motion machine?
it's basically just a pendulum with two magnets. The magnets are placed so they attract the pendulum bob at the top o fits swing; however there is also some kind of shielding device which swings into place (and is also powered by the pendulum) as the pendulum bob reaches the top and thus cuts off the magnetic attraction. A link to an article explaining the fallacy would be ideal; it's a common idea that many people have had.

Best Answer The seemingly mysterious ability of magnets to influence motion at a distance without any apparent energy source has long appealed to inventors. However, a constant magnetic field does no work because the force it exerts on a charged particle is always at right angles to its motion; a changing field can do work, but requires energy to sustain. A "fixed" magnet can do work, but energy is dissipated in the process, typically weakening the magnet's strength over time. Thus, when a magnet does work by lifting an iron weight, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Once the iron hits the magnet its kinetic energy is converted to heat and sound. In order to release further energy, the iron must be moved away from the magnet. This converts the energy of your arm to potential energy again. Since the energy of parting the magnet and iron is identical to the energy released as the magnet and iron come together, no net energy can be gained by changing the iron - magnet distance.

Question Tell me why my perpetual motion idea won't work?
Imagine a small device that resembles a ferris wheel. There are magnets spaced equally around the rim. There is another strong magnet at the bottom such that when the wheel turns each magnet around the rim passes close to it and is pulled by it causing the wheel to speed up. Normally the wheel would slow down again as the rim magnet passes the stationary one and is attracted in the opposite direction. I get that. But imagine each rim magnet is enclosed in a small superconducting box which blocks magnetic fields. One side of the box has hinges so that it can open as it approaches the stationary magnet and thus the magnet within will be drawn toward the stationary magnet and speed the wheel up. As it passes the stationary magnet the box closes preventing the attraction that would normally slow the wheel again. A bit of the wheel's spin energy is used to open and close the box but if the wheel is large enough and the boxes small and light enough there should extra energy left over.

Best Answer You must be assuming that the magnetic fields do not help or hinder the opening or closing of the box. That is an unwarranted assumption I think. Anyway, all perpetual motion ideas violate conservation of energy. No example of a true violation of conservation of energy has ever been found. That is what makes it such a powerful concept. If you have a new idea, but it does not obey conservation of energy, then you have missed something. You may not know exactly what you missed, but it is a red flag telling you to think harder.