I had an idea when I was a kid about making a non-electric motor out of nothing but permanent magnets. I went on a forum (actually, a news group) and asked about it and was told that I was not the first one to come up with that design and that it was the stuff of fantacy, in the realm of overunity and such.
It was explained to me that the design I had drawn, if by some act of magic were to work, it would only work for a little while because permanent magnets are like batteries, and if held in opposition, they will rapidly deplete. That is the understanding I have gone forward with until this point.
Now I am curious how the magnet in a permanent magnet motor does not deplete. I'm sure it may deplete a little bit over time, but not rapidly as my understanding of magnets dictates that it should. I also have a memory fragment of reading that permanent magnet motors will lose their magnetism if you remove the magnet for too long.
so, my questions are:
1. Will a magnet indeed lose it's magnetism if held in opposition to another magnet?
2. If so, Why does a permanent magnet motor not lose it's magnetism?
The sad thing is, I've been over this before and figured it out, but now I can't remember.
It was explained to me that the design I had drawn, if by some act of magic were to work, it would only work for a little while because permanent magnets are like batteries, and if held in opposition, they will rapidly deplete. That is the understanding I have gone forward with until this point.
Now I am curious how the magnet in a permanent magnet motor does not deplete. I'm sure it may deplete a little bit over time, but not rapidly as my understanding of magnets dictates that it should. I also have a memory fragment of reading that permanent magnet motors will lose their magnetism if you remove the magnet for too long.
so, my questions are:
1. Will a magnet indeed lose it's magnetism if held in opposition to another magnet?
2. If so, Why does a permanent magnet motor not lose it's magnetism?
The sad thing is, I've been over this before and figured it out, but now I can't remember.