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Did I just think of a perpetual motion device?

Asked by jackm (6212points) October 17th, 2009

I know we are told that the laws of physics do not allow perpetual motion devices, but isn’t a planet orbiting the sun a perpetual motion device? It can go on forever with out violating the laws of physics.

I though of two arguments to this:

They aren’t moving in relation to each other, so technically no motion is happening.
-Then throw in another planet, and there will be relative motion. Also non-relative motion is still motion.

No work is being done, so it doesn’t violate any laws
-Well perpetual motion doesn’t imply work, so then this is still a perpetual motion device. If this is the only argument then perpetual motion is simply a misnomer, and we should change it to perpetual work device.

Any thoughts by some legitimate physicists?

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