Zero Point Energy

[DarthFishy]

I was chatting to a friend and we was talking about the idea that Zero Point Energy (ZPE) was a way of creating "free" energy and bypassing the laws of physics. So I decided to check out the wikipedia article (the source of all knowledge and wisdom ) and found some interesting information about what ZPE is. Unfortunately there was very little about exactly what the idea is behind the "free" energy devices or any debunking of them.

I was wondering if anybody here had come into contact with these ideas and had any good debunkings of them?

Thanks in advance

 

[LordoftheLeftHand]

As I understand it:

It is impossible to move thermal energy from a colder body to a warmer body without contributing extra energy (think air conditioner).

Zero point energy is the minimum amount of energy any system can have. Which corresponds to about -273C.

I would think this would be the last place people would look for an energy solution; like trying to boil water with ice cubes.

I'm sure someone can point out the flaws in my reasoning.

LLH

 

[DarthFishy]

Hey that's a nice logical explanation! Thanx

I was wondering how people would think such a device could use Zero Point Energy? Maybe because the energy in a vacuum cannot go lower than ZPE you could "steal" the energy without losing it? Any ideas?

 

[jmercer]

Maybe some form of information storage?

 

[DarthFishy]

Maybe some form of information storage?

Hmmmm...

I must admit my knowledge of the physics here is very limited but that might be what the idea is. Dunno if that was exactly the same idea as what my friend had.

Oh and happy birthday btw

 

[leon_heller]

Zero point energy also refers to the energy in a vacuum, which is what loony inventors claim to be using in their energy production devices.

Leon

 

[Pantaz]

So called "zero point energy" is a "Holy Grail" for free energy enthusiasts.
If you want some entertainment, try this -- www.zpenergy.com

 

[sol invictus]

We discussed this a little a while back. It IS possible to extract energy from the "vacuum" - for example, you might live in a region of the universe in which the local zero point energy is larger than the global minimum. In that case there can be phase transitions, where regions of lower energy form as bubbles. Those bubbles tend to expand very, very rapidly, and there's tons of energy in their walls.

Unfortunately if we are hit by such a bubble we will die immediately, and once such a phase transition is started it doesn't stop (the bubble expands forever). Therefore if anyone succeeds in extracting energy from the vacuum, they will die a tiny fraction of a second later - and so will everyone else.

 

[Jimbo07]

It IS possible to extract energy from the "vacuum" ... In that case there can be phase transitions, where regions of lower energy form as bubbles... Unfortunately if we are hit by such a bubble we will die immediately, and once such a phase transition is started it doesn't stop

Excellent, we have the rudiments of a system we can start fleshing out!

1.0 Zero Point Energy System
1.1 Vacuum Energy Extractor Subsystem
1.2 Vacuum Bubble Containment Subsystem
1.3 ...

 

[leon_heller]

We discussed this a little a while back. It IS possible to extract energy from the "vacuum" - for example, you might live in a region of the universe in which the local zero point energy is larger than the global minimum. In that case there can be phase transitions, where regions of lower energy form as bubbles. Those bubbles tend to expand very, very rapidly, and there's tons of energy in their walls.

Unfortunately if we are hit by such a bubble we will die immediately, and once such a phase transition is started it doesn't stop (the bubble expands forever). Therefore if anyone succeeds in extracting energy from the vacuum, they will die a tiny fraction of a second later - and so will everyone else.

How can there be regions of the universe where zero point energy has different properties?

Leon

 

[sol invictus]

Excellent, we have the rudiments of a system we can start fleshing out!

1.0 Zero Point Energy System
1.1 Vacuum Energy Extractor Subsystem
1.2 Vacuum Bubble Containment Subsystem
1.3 ...

Sounds good - but I'm a little worried about steps 1.0-1.3....

How can there be regions of the universe where zero point energy has different properties?

Are you asking how they could have come to be? Or how can they continue to exist?

 

[DarthFishy]

We discussed this a little a while back. It IS possible to extract energy from the "vacuum" - for example, you might live in a region of the universe in which the local zero point energy is larger than the global minimum. In that case there can be phase transitions, where regions of lower energy form as bubbles. Those bubbles tend to expand very, very rapidly, and there's tons of energy in their walls.

Unfortunately if we are hit by such a bubble we will die immediately, and once such a phase transition is started it doesn't stop (the bubble expands forever). Therefore if anyone succeeds in extracting energy from the vacuum, they will die a tiny fraction of a second later - and so will everyone else.

Lol, then I'd better tell my friend to stop his experimenting

Thanx for all the info so far.

 

[Spud1k]

Zero point energy is all hokum as far as I'm concerned, a thought experiment at best. Generally speaking, it is just another hand-waving explanation for how you could construct an over-unity device and the only people who subscribe to it are the ones claiming to have cracked such a device and are looking for investors/attention.

Bottom line is that it won't work without either breaking the laws of thermodynamics or destroying the universe.