Perpetual Motion Is Impossible

Over the centuries, inventors have tried to build machines that run forever without energy input. Every single one has failed, and physics tells us why: energy conservation makes perpetual motion impossible.

Every moving part loses energy to friction. Every friction point generates heat.

Inventors keep trying anyway - and the Patent Office has long singled out perpetual-motion claims. Since the mid-1800s, these applications have faced an unusually hard demand: show a working model before the office will even take the claim seriously.