perpetual motion

English

Noun

perpetual motion (uncountable)

1. (physics) The motion of some hypothetical device that continues forever with no external input of energy, in violation of the laws of thermodynamics.

Usage notes

• In the literal sense, perpetual motion can exist in an ideal isolated system, such as a single photon moving through empty space. However, a perpetual motion machine which produces work while retaining its kinetic energy is impossible under the known laws of physics.

Derived terms

• perpetual motion machine

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: ikuinen liike
• French: mouvement perpétuel (fr) m
• Latin: mōtus perpetuus m
• Polish: wieczny ruch m, nieustanny ruch m
• Russian: ве́чное движе́ние n (véčnoje dvižénije)

Further reading

• perpetual motion on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Laws of thermodynamics on Wikipedia.Wikipedia