Fixing Up with Amazon
Buy used
£14.55
FREE delivery 29 November - 5 December. Details
Used: Good | Details
Sold by ErgodeBooks Ships From USA
Condition: Used: Good
Usually dispatched within 8 to 9 days
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Perpetual Motion: The History of an Obsession Paperback – Illustrated, 1 Jan. 2005

4.4 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
An illustrated overview of perpetualmotion machines and their inventors. The deceptively simple task of making a mechanism which would turn forever has fascinated many famous men and physicists throughout the centuries. In fact, the basic tenets of engineering grew from the failures of these perpetual motion machine designers. And, despite the naivete and even the blatant trickery of many inventors, there still exist a handful of mechanisms which defy explanation: * a vast canvascovered wheel which turned by itself was erected in the Tower of London * another wheel turned endlessly in Germany and was discussed by philosophers and scientists throughout Europe, including Sir Isaac Newton
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Adventures Unlimited Press
  4. Publication date
    1 Jan. 2005
  5. Dimensions
    15.24 x 2.54 x 22.86 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1931882517
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1931882514
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Adventures Unlimited Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 Jan. 2005
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1931882517
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1931882514
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 249 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.54 x 22.86 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 3,713,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume

Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
17 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There are 0 reviews from United Kingdom

Top reviews from other countries

  • BABUL ROY
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book written in non-technical language is an useful addition to the history of science for the general ...
    Reviewed in India on 5 March 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The book written in non-technical language is an useful addition to the history of science for the general readers in particular but for all in general. Well illustrated down through the history of human endeavors into achieving uninterrupted mechanics for the greater usefulness of humankind. The most important part of the book is that instead of completely saying ''no'' to discourse any future venture on this direction, it concludes that so far there is not theoretical basis to say "no" to a perpetual motion machine, but only that it is possible to say "no" to a particular device, i.e. a given particular machine would not work perpetually. The 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics are often popularly used to explain that perpetual machine is theoretically impossible. Here, however, it is very convincingly presented to any non-technical reader that both these laws are only statistically true at the overall context. So there may be a perpetual motion machine without affecting or challenging the Laws of Thermodynamics. The weakness of the book, although very exhaustively documented lack discussion on several modern claims, particularly on magnetic devices. A more elaborate illustration on the electrical perpetual motion machine would have been more interesting.

    Science is not only rests on the history of success, but also on failure. Any documentation on failures in scientific experimentation is equally important as on successes. As we can learn from failures as much as from success. This book is a contribution on this direction. It will be a good reading for the people in general interested with the history of science. And the history of science is a must for all scientists.
    Report
  • Petra
    5.0 out of 5 stars good book for my sons school project
    Reviewed in Canada on 9 September 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    different from other books as it seems to tell the science part of it and not science fiction/story
    Report
  • Mr. Apol
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on the subject
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 July 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This should be everyone's basic text on the subject of perpetual motion. If it were, there might be a lot less nonsense written on the topic.
    Report
  • Marlon Schmitt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perpetual Motion, if you Please
    Reviewed in Canada on 19 October 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is a very interesting account of perpetual motion through the ages, from when Mankind first invented the wheel to electricity and magnetism. It has detailed pictures of different supposed perpetual motion machines and gives a reason why each did not work. A definitive book on the subject.
    Report
  • Johann Arroyo Arce
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 December 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    It is a well-documented book, all you need to know about the perpetual motion you find it in this book, totally recommended!
    Report