I think this is the best answer. Just because magnetism is not visible doesn’t make it magic. The source of the forces doesn’t change where those forces go. A lot of these perpetual motion machines can be simplified to a situation that makes intuitive sense.
So, hypothetically, what if we replaced the magnet on the stick with a stronger magnet? (I’m sure this wouldn’t work, I just don’t know why it wouldn’t work lol)
The same. The attraction from one magnet to the other is the same on each magnets. If one is stronger, the total attraction is higher, but still the same on both ends.
When you are holding the magnet in front of the car you are pulling the car along through the magnetic attraction between the magnets, and the car is pulling the magnet back towards itself with equal force. However, you can just pull the magnet away as the car gets closer. When you do so you are transferring the force the car is imparting on you into the ground you are standing on.
If you were to now get on top of the car and hold the magnet in front of it the magnet you are holding would be pulled towards the car, and the car towards it. However, since you are on top of the car, instead of the force the car is imparting on you going into the ground (allowing you to keep moving the magnet away from the car) it would go back into the car. This force going back into the car is identical to the force the magnet you are holding is imparting on the car. As such they cancel each other out and the car does not move.
If you repeat the above, but replace the magnet with a rope, it’s a lot more clear why it doesn’t work. You can’t pull on a rope while sitting on a car and expect the car to move. The magnetic force is the rope, and you pulling on the magnet is the same as pulling on the rope.
In simplest terms, the two magnets are trying to pull toward each other equally. But when you glue them on the board, that glue holds the magnets apart, and “pushes” them the same amount that the magnets “pull” towards each other, hence no movement.
There would only be a movement if one side was pulling more than the other. The hand is providing that imbalance at first which moved the car.
It doesn’t work because, while the front magnet is pulling the car magnet forward, the car magnet is also pulling the front magnet backwards and the front magnet is also attached to the car, so it cancels out.
Ok when not glued: both magnets get pulled to each other. The hand has to use some force in order to stay in place, so the car moves.
When glued: both magnets still get pulled to each other, but now the force is cancelled out since the force that would pull it forward also has to be used to hold the other in place.
Magnet want to pull and stick to each other of the different pole. When it glued to the car, the one on the cardboard will want to move toward the car and the one on the front hood will want to move toward the cardboard. The force cancel each other out so no movement will happen.
In this situation the magnets act much like a spring, so imagine changing the magnets on the stick and the car for a simple spring. That is much more easier to visualize.
Not quite the same as the two magnets. If you have a big fan and a square sail, you’re moving air, which has mass and is not attached to the boat. That alone will cause a force that moves the boat backwards. The moving air that hits the sail will not fully cancel that force due to frictional losses and air spillage from the edges.
Racing yachts are a different story. They have rigid sails that are shaped like airfoils. Blowing across an airfoil causes lift. So a big fan blowing perpendicular to the axis of the boat across such a sail would move the boat forward. But it’s much more efficient for the fan to blow backwards without the sail, hence airboats and hovercraft.
I’m a big stupid and can come one smart explain why this doesn’t work in reality?
The magnet is not pulling the car, the hand holding the magnet is pulling the car.
I know there are a lot of replies already, but I feel like the best way to explain is it’s similar to trying to push a car while you’re in it.
I think this is the best answer. Just because magnetism is not visible doesn’t make it magic. The source of the forces doesn’t change where those forces go. A lot of these perpetual motion machines can be simplified to a situation that makes intuitive sense.
Basically, as much as the magnet on the car is pushing it forward, the magnet on the stick is pulling it back and it doesn’t go anywhere.
So, hypothetically, what if we replaced the magnet on the stick with a stronger magnet? (I’m sure this wouldn’t work, I just don’t know why it wouldn’t work lol)
The same. The attraction from one magnet to the other is the same on each magnets. If one is stronger, the total attraction is higher, but still the same on both ends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqt5WagrlJA
Every force has an equal and opposite reaction.
When you are holding the magnet in front of the car you are pulling the car along through the magnetic attraction between the magnets, and the car is pulling the magnet back towards itself with equal force. However, you can just pull the magnet away as the car gets closer. When you do so you are transferring the force the car is imparting on you into the ground you are standing on.
If you were to now get on top of the car and hold the magnet in front of it the magnet you are holding would be pulled towards the car, and the car towards it. However, since you are on top of the car, instead of the force the car is imparting on you going into the ground (allowing you to keep moving the magnet away from the car) it would go back into the car. This force going back into the car is identical to the force the magnet you are holding is imparting on the car. As such they cancel each other out and the car does not move.
If you repeat the above, but replace the magnet with a rope, it’s a lot more clear why it doesn’t work. You can’t pull on a rope while sitting on a car and expect the car to move. The magnetic force is the rope, and you pulling on the magnet is the same as pulling on the rope.
One magnet does not pull on the other, both are pulling on each other.
It is both pushing and pulling at the same time.
In simplest terms, the two magnets are trying to pull toward each other equally. But when you glue them on the board, that glue holds the magnets apart, and “pushes” them the same amount that the magnets “pull” towards each other, hence no movement.
There would only be a movement if one side was pulling more than the other. The hand is providing that imbalance at first which moved the car.
Its a remote control car
I haven’t been able to locate the link again, but the full video shows they’re using a hairdryer to push it.
It’s probably just on a slight incline. Much simpler
It doesn’t work because, while the front magnet is pulling the car magnet forward, the car magnet is also pulling the front magnet backwards and the front magnet is also attached to the car, so it cancels out.
Ok when not glued: both magnets get pulled to each other. The hand has to use some force in order to stay in place, so the car moves.
When glued: both magnets still get pulled to each other, but now the force is cancelled out since the force that would pull it forward also has to be used to hold the other in place.
Magnet want to pull and stick to each other of the different pole. When it glued to the car, the one on the cardboard will want to move toward the car and the one on the front hood will want to move toward the cardboard. The force cancel each other out so no movement will happen.
In this situation the magnets act much like a spring, so imagine changing the magnets on the stick and the car for a simple spring. That is much more easier to visualize.
I think it’s the same as trying to give a sailboat acceleration by trying to blow the sails while standing on deck.
Not quite the same as the two magnets. If you have a big fan and a square sail, you’re moving air, which has mass and is not attached to the boat. That alone will cause a force that moves the boat backwards. The moving air that hits the sail will not fully cancel that force due to frictional losses and air spillage from the edges.
Racing yachts are a different story. They have rigid sails that are shaped like airfoils. Blowing across an airfoil causes lift. So a big fan blowing perpendicular to the axis of the boat across such a sail would move the boat forward. But it’s much more efficient for the fan to blow backwards without the sail, hence airboats and hovercraft.
If you could scale the strength of blowing all the way up this would actually work though no?
For example, if you were in a light kayak with a mini sail and had a high powered leaf blower pointing at the sail, would that work?
The magnets are not pulling it forward.