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Science

packman

(16,296 posts)

8. The ATOM says

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Tue Feb 4, 2014, 11:49 AM

Feb 2014

.................. I LIKE IT

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But, I am confused, if the lasers set the atom in motion, does it continue in motion without the aid of continued laser bombardment? If not isn't this a form of perpetual motion and violates a law of physics? From my understanding of basic thermodynamics, seems inherently impossible without a continued outside energy support.

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Highlight:

The World's Smallest Engine Runs on a Single Atom [View all] n2doc Feb 2014 OP

And what does one power with the world's smallest engine? A teabaggers brain? Scuba Feb 2014 #1

Congress notemason Feb 2014 #2

<snicker> marble falls Feb 2014 #11

calling Heisenberg! "alters the fuzzy smear of probability of where the atom exists" NRaleighLiberal Feb 2014 #3

I guess the question is: can it generate more energy than it takes the lasers to power it? Richardo Feb 2014 #4

The answer to that would be a definite no....law of conservation of energy wercal Feb 2014 #6

Good point - what I meant to get to was possible applications... Richardo Feb 2014 #7

But if it was fitted in a car dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #5

I say Yes! And, better yet Sentath Feb 2014 #9

Yes. Atomic ones. Like my Chevy. marble falls Feb 2014 #12

The ATOM says packman Feb 2014 #8

Yeah, the title is a little confusing. Sentath Feb 2014 #10

It's very efficient, but it takes forever to go from 0 to 60 mph. tclambert Feb 2014 #13

OMG! What if the throttle stuck? n/t OxQQme Feb 2014 #14