The concept of “perpetual motion” has a long history. The Indian astronomer and mathematician Bhaskara II (12th century) was the first person to describe a perpetual motion (PM) machine.1 An example of a 13th- century PM machine is shown in Fig. 1. Although the law of conservation of energy clearly implies the impossibility of PM construction, over the centuries numerous proposals for PM have been made, involving ever more elements of modern science in their construction. It is possible to test a variety of PM machines in the classroom using a program called Phun2 or its commercial version Algodoo.3 The programs are designed to simulate physical processes and we can easily simulate mechanical machines using them. They provide an intuitive graphical environment controlled with a mouse; a programming language is not needed. This paper describes simulations of four different (supposed) PM machines.4

Topics
Energy conservation, Friction, Programming languages, Educational aids, Educational assessment, Hydrostatics, Buoyancy, Astronomers, Mathematician
1.
Hans Peter
 
Gramatke
, “
Perpetuum mobile—Concepts II
,”
HP's Perpetuum Mobile
; www.hp-gramatke.net/perpetuum/english/ page0220.htm.
2.
Phun — 2D physics sandbox Algoryx Simulation AB
; www. algodoo.com/wiki/Home.
3.
Algodoo
,
Algoryx Simulation AB
; www.algodoo.com/wiki/ Home.
4.
"
Tutoriále — Algodoo
,”
Algoryx Simulation AB
; www.algodoo. com/wiki/Tutorials.
5.
Donald E.
 
Simanek
, “
Perpetual futility: A short history of the search for perpetual motion
,”
The Museum of Unworkable Devices
; www.lhup.edu/∼dsimanek/museum/people/people.htm.
6.
Arthur
 
Ord-Hume
,
Perpetual Motion
(
Adventures Unlimited Press
,
2006
), pp.
32
–
34
.
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© 2012 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2012
American Association of Physics Teachers
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