Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Don Stuckey on 23/06/2008 13:47:01

Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: Don Stuckey on 23/06/2008 13:47:01
Don Stuckey asked the Naked Scientists:

Have any observed phenomena ever countered any of the laws of thermodynamics, or are the said laws absolute?

What do you think?
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 23/06/2008 17:49:49
Don,
If you are referring to reversal of entropy on the universal macro scale no this is impossible. We do reverse entropy in micro systems all the time,, but this never stops the entropy of the whole universe.

There is some evidence that a black hole reverses entropy but in the end just like all other systems gives off its energy into the heat sink that is the universe

Regards

Alan
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 24/06/2008 08:57:30
No
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 27/06/2008 18:41:45
NO
What?????????????
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: BenV on 27/06/2008 18:46:34
It's okay Alan, I think he was replying to Don.
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 28/06/2008 07:06:24
If someone had then they wouldn't be laws, they'd be guidelines
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: skeptic on 01/07/2008 02:46:55
Don Stuckey asked the Naked Scientists:

Have any observed phenomena ever countered any of the laws of thermodynamics, or are the said laws absolute?

What do you think?

I think, if anyone had, we would be driving cars that run on water.
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: syhprum on 01/07/2008 18:56:52
A car that run on water would be entirely possible if no very practical if the water was supplied at 100°C and its stored energy used to run a freon turbine or other type of heat engine.
This system was actually used on the early London underground system where steam powered locomotives had their fires shut down and ran in the tunnels on the residual energy stored in the boiler.
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: skeptic on 01/07/2008 20:47:43
A car that run on water would be entirely possible if no very practical if the water was supplied at 100°C and its stored energy used to run a freon turbine or other type of heat engine.
This system was actually used on the early London underground system where steam powered locomotives had their fires shut down and ran in the tunnels on the residual energy stored in the boiler.
This is simply "coasting" off the excess or wasted energy. It requires input energy to heat the water. 
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: syhprum on 02/07/2008 20:36:39
Water will not work as a fuel in the Earths atmosphere consisting of Nitrogen and Oxygen but no doubt there are other gases with which an exothermic reaction could occur.
I am not well versed in chemistry but I am sure some other correspondents are.
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 03/07/2008 01:41:02
What about splitting H2O into hydrogen and oxygen and using these split gasses as a fuel. Or am I just stating the obvious?
Title: Has anyone broken the laws of thermodynamics?
Post by: skeptic on 03/07/2008 02:25:24
What about splitting H2O into hydrogen and oxygen and using these split gasses as a fuel. Or am I just stating the obvious?

That's actually the process I was thinking of when I first posted on this thread. It is a valid process, but requires more energy input than it produces. There are some who claim they can use an HHO(Brown's Gas or Hydrogen) Generator with electrical power from the battery to do this, but it requires MORE THAN 100% efficiency to restore the battery load AND power the car. The numbers just don't add up.

If Stanley Meyer's water engine ever runs on only water, they will have broken the laws of thermodynamics. It's a perpetual motion machine.

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