If a Superfluid flows without any loss of kinetic energy, then how does it not violate the First Law of Thermodynamics?

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If a Superfluid flows without any loss of kinetic energy, then how does it not violate the First Law of Thermodynamics?

In: Physics

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

If you have a superfluid on a half-pipe, and drop it down, it would go up the other side, and then back down, and back up to where it was dropped, and back and forth, with no frictional losses. This is just a reversible system, which is allowed by thermodynamics.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because no energy is being created or destroyed. If you attempted to do any work with this system, to get any energy out of it, then it would indeed lose kinetic energy and be fully compliant with the First Law of Thermodynamics.

It is a misconception that the First Law disallows perpetual motion. What it disallows being able to extract energy or work from a system perpetually. It is perfectly acceptable for a self-contained system to be in perpetual motion, but you will be unable to actually extract anything from it (and it remain perpetual).