Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

hi

my name is gaurav .i'm from delhi.... my class mate Mudit ( age 17 years) has serendipitily created an actual working perpetual motion machine with help of magnets . the machine spins at 120 rpm. and can he apply a patent for it?

and can he present this machine at intel science talent fair ??

hope to hear ur comments and suggestions

thanks
gaurav

Interesting.... interesting....

There's a pretty good summary of Perpetual Motion on Wikipedia that you and your friend probably should read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion_machine

It includes a section specifically about perpetual motion machine patents. I am excerpting from that page here:

"Devising such ... machines has become common enough that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has made an official policy of refusing to grant patents for perpetual motion machines without a working model." - Wikipedia

So if he has a working model then perhaps he can patent it.

Patents in the United States are handled through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Their website is here:

http://www.uspto.gov/

I do not know what the laws and procedures are for patenting in India. Maybe someone else might know?