Question

questions 1. what does this experiment show about the feasibility of a perpetual motion machine? 2. why should fw be moving with constant velocity in each trial?

Explanation:

1. The first - law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) and the second - law (entropy increase) imply that a perpetual motion machine is not feasible. In an experiment, if a system is moving with constant velocity, it may suggest that there is no net force acting on it (Newton's first law). However, in the real world, there are always dissipative forces like friction and air - resistance. For FW to move with constant velocity in each trial, it implies that any external forces acting on it are balanced out. But in the long run, due to the presence of non - conservative forces, a true perpetual motion cannot be achieved.
2. A machine moving with constant velocity has zero acceleration. According to Newton's second law ($F = ma$), when $a = 0$, the net force $F_{net}=0$. In the context of a perpetual motion machine, achieving a state of constant velocity without an external energy source to counteract dissipative forces is impossible as energy is constantly being lost to the environment.

Answer:

1. This experiment shows that a perpetual motion machine is not feasible because in the real world, there are always non - conservative forces (such as friction and air resistance) that will dissipate energy and prevent a machine from moving perpetually. Even if FW is moving with constant velocity in a trial, it cannot sustain this motion indefinitely without an external energy source to counteract these losses.
2. FW should be moving with constant velocity in each trial to maintain a state of zero net force, which is consistent with Newton's first law of motion. However, in reality, external non - conservative forces will eventually cause the motion to stop, and thus a true perpetual motion cannot be achieved.