# Is an atom a perpetual-motion machine?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-atom-a-perpetual-motion-machine/439390>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 27, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-atom-a-perpetual-motion-machine/439390 "2008-02-27T16:46:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-atom-a-perpetual-motion-machine/439390/21 "2008-02-28T13:37:53Z")

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[quot]Okay, that was a little too obvious. I guess I should have asked if it had a brand name.

[/quote]

Let’s call it **Ullage**

Not only a Brand Name, it can also be a Band Name.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-atom-a-perpetual-motion-machine/439390/22 "2008-02-28T18:50:58Z")

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And here is where I point out that the “empty space” within atoms isn’t empty at all, since it’s full of fields. Nor is this a pedantic nitpick, since the electrons themselves are really just manifestations of fields, too.

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**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-atom-a-perpetual-motion-machine/439390/23 "2008-02-28T19:10:54Z")

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[QUOTE=Chronos]  
And here is where I point out that the “empty space” within atoms isn’t empty at all, since it’s full of fields. Nor is this a pedantic nitpick, since the electrons themselves are really just manifestations of fields, too.  
[/QUOTE]  
A Staff Report and a couple of my favorite threads on the topic:

[Is it possible to create a science fiction-type force field?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mforcefield.html) (see last paragraph)  
[thread=317601]Is there a precise definition of “touching”?[/thread]  
[thread=299054]Why can’t my hand go through my desk? (physics question)[/thread]

Stranger

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**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-atom-a-perpetual-motion-machine/439390/24 "2008-02-28T23:54:27Z")

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[QUOTE=Anne Neville]  
[the math required for matrix mechanics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_mechanics) (if you are a math-phobe, for the love of God and your sanity, _do not click that link_).  
[/QUOTE]

(from the link):

"Just like the matrix elements of x+ip and x-ip for the harmonic oscillator hamiltonian, this commutation law implies that these operators only have certain off diagonal matrix elements in states of definite m.

(Long string of unintelligible heiroglyphic gobbledygook)

meaning that the matrix (x+iy) takes an eigenvector of Lz with eigenvalue m to an eigenvector with eigenvalue m+1. Similarly, (x-iy) decrease m by one unit, and z does not change the value of m."

Well, there ya go.

_What?!_  
I no longer love God, and I am insane.

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