Wikipedia defines
"perpetual motion" as a condition in which an object continues
to move indefinitely without being driven by an external
source of energy. It then goes on to explain how this would
violate the laws of thermodynamics. But these laws are for
scientists. Let us look at how to create a perpetual motion
machine using the techniques of political spin doctors.
There are two key elements
of the definition - motion and energy. Motion is distance
moved over a set period of time. Scientists assume that both
are constant. But then they tell us that the Universe is
expanding, which means things are stretching. There doesn't
seem be an estimate of the rate of stretch but it is small
enough that we don't notice it from day to day. If things are
stretching as they say then it means the metre is gradually
getting longer. Therefore it is quite okay to shorten it a
little each year. A 3% reduction per year sounds about right.
In fact this is only 0.08 mm per day so it won't be noticed by
most of us. This puts it in the same ballpark as the expansion
of the Universe (not noticeable). Those who need more precise
measurements are clever enough deal with the metre shortening
by 3% per year.
By changing human laws to
redefine the metre in this way, we can turn a 97% efficient
machine into perpetual motion.
97% might be a little
difficult to achieve and people might complain if we try more
drastic reductions of the metre so let's look at the energy
side. By way of example let us assume our machine uses
electricity. Now scientists like to measure electricity in
fancy units like kilowatt hours but what it boils down to is
the dollars you pay for that electricity. We could look at the
effects of monetary inflation (by coincidence, also around 3%)
and see if we can extract some more efficiency from that. But
then we might run into some tax deductibility problems.
How about if we define
"energy" as electricity that we have to pay for within, say,
four years? That solves the problem because we can get a loan.
Better still make it a loan where no repayments are required
for 50 years. Our grandchildren will have worked out how to
pay off the loan by then.
With a shortening metre
and a long-term loan for electricity we can easily construct a
machine that meets our improved definition of perpetual
motion. And so we can solve the world's energy problems with
just a little help from the spin doctors.
What if the shrinking
metre was real? Length changes at relativistic speeds so why
shouldn't it also change over time? Maybe the expansion of the
Universe is an illusion and actually everything within it is
shrinking so that things further away (and therefore in the
more distance past) look like they are moving away from us at
higher and higher speeds. After all, the Red Shift is due to
the changing wavelength of light and wavelength depends on
speed of "recession" which, in turn depends distance and time. A shrinking metre would give the same
appearance as a higher speed.
The Big Bang becomes the Big Wither!
BTW - there are many, many other consequences
of an expanding universe that make this the more likely
explanation of our observations! :-\
See also Carl Sagan's
Baloney Detection Kit