Perpetual Motion Clocks?

Status
Not open for further replies.

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,111
926
126
My grandmother had one of these perpetual motion clocks. How do they work?

All I remember was a few gold looking characters, seemingly chained together, or holding hands. They went round and round and drove the hands of the clock.

The laws of physics say this is impossible. Did she get up in the middle of the night and change batteries......or, how it work?
 
May 11, 2008
21,644
1,293
126
We used to have a clock like that when i was little. But it used two weights that were disguised as part of the clock. Gravity is used to drive the clock.
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
My grandmother had one of these perpetual motion clocks. How do they work?

All I remember was a few gold looking characters, seemingly chained together, or holding hands. They went round and round and drove the hands of the clock.

The laws of physics say this is impossible. Did she get up in the middle of the night and change batteries......or, how it work?

lol
 

Blanky

Platinum Member
Oct 18, 2014
2,457
12
46
They have to be reset/rewound. Perpetual motion machines continue to never have existed.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,066
9,468
126
Might have been key wound also. I have a perpetual motion clock on my mantle. It runs forever, or seven days, whichever comes first.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,267
126
They aren't "perpetual motion", but instead "perpetual" in the sense that they do not need a battery or to be wound, and I'd love to have one. They work by extracting energy from normal variations in ambient temperature or atmospheric pressure.

Atmos clocks can be found for sale and are still made. The latest and greatest which is designed to show time until the year 3k is $90,000 :eek:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.