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[[image:DennisLeeMachine.jpg|Dennis Lee, Inventor and Free-Energy-machines merchant with an alleged generator|thumb]]

[[image:DennisLeeMachine.jpg|Dennis Lee, Inventor and Free-Energy-machines merchant with an alleged generator|thumb]]

The term '''free energy''' is used in several ways. It is a well defined concept in thermodynamics, which will only be short explained below. Of more interest here is the ''theft'' of this term by charlatans to obscure their unfounded claims about what amounts to a perpetuum mobile (PM).

The term '''Free Energy''' is applied in several ways. It is a well defined concept in thermodynamics which will only be explained in short below. The usurpation of this term by charlatans seeking to obscure their unfounded claims about what boils down to a perpetuum mobile (PM) are of principal interest here.

The idea of a PM is a very old concept and is one of the oldest and most persistent scams in history. Web wisdom has it, that science rejects this concept stating in the 13th century. Paris University seems to have decided in 1775 to no longer investigate such claims. In most countries, a PM can only be patented upon presentation of a functioning prototype, which is not possible. Claims by alleged inventors their PM cannot be patanted as an excuse to the secrecy they employ are thus unfounded. Several museums worldwide sport fake PMs, eg the ''Deutsche Museum'' Munich. So, even upon presentation of a prototype, a thorough investigation would be neccessary.

Nevertheless, several inventors managed to make a decent living from such machines. An early example is the american inventor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ernst_Worrell_Keely John Keely], who started collecting substantial amounts of money in the 1870s. Until his death 1898, he lived from investments in his inventions, which he demonstrated, but never had independently examined and he never produced a prototype- a striking parallel to all modern PM inventors.

 

Nevertheless, several inventors managed to make a decent living from such machines. An early example is the American inventor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ernst_Worrell_Keely John Keely] who started collecting substantial amounts of money in the 1870s. Until his death 1898, he lived from amounts invested in his inventions, which he demonstrated, but never had independently examined and he never produced a prototype - a striking parallel to all modern PM inventors.

==Free Energy in scientific physics==

==Free Energy in scientific physics==

The term '''free energy''' is clearly defined in scientific physics and is used as Helmholtz free energy or Helmholtz potential. In physics it is a measurement for the useful work obtainable from a thermodynamic system, the amount of energy that can be utilized according to the second law of thermodynamics [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz_free_energy Helmholtz free energy].

The term '''Free Energy''' is clearly defined in scientific physics and used as Helmholtz free energy or Helmholtz potential. In physics it is a measurement for the useful work obtainable from a thermodynamic system, the amount of energy that can be utilized according to the second law of thermodynamics [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz_free_energy Helmholtz free energy].

==Free Energy as a synonym for perpetual motion==

==Free Energy as a synonym for a perpetual motion device==

[[image:Brady_Blick.jpg|Article in "Blick" April 14, 2010 Arrest of [[Mike Brady]]|300px|left|thumb]]

[[image:Brady_Blick.jpg|Article in "Blick" April 14, 2010 Arrest of [[Mike Brady]]|300px|left|thumb]]

In [[Esotericism|esoteric]] [[Conspiracy Theory|conspiracy theory]] circles, ''free energy'' is an allegedly inexhaustible type of energy which could replace fossil and renewable energy (solar power). According to supporters, its use was allegedly prevented by influential but otherwise unspecified groups. No objective evidence of such an energy is known.

In [[Esotericism|esoteric]] [[Conspiracy Theory|conspiracy theory]] circles, ''Free Energy'' is an allegedly inexhaustible type of energy which could replace both fossil and renewable energy sources (solar power). According to supporters, its use was resp. is allegedly prevented by influential but otherwise unspecified groups. No objective evidence of such an energy is known.

Closely related to the esoteric hypothesis of free energy is the idea of a [[Perpetual Motion|perpetual motion]] device. Such a device is not possible, as it would violate the thermodynamic laws of energy conservation in physics. Free energy supporters often use the term "overunity" to express that these claimed machines produced more usable energy than is fed into them (efficiency > 1). A number of frauds and profiteers offer commercial "free energy machines" or generators. In addition, fisherman's stories of an alleged suppression of the invention are often spread. Typical examples are [[Water-fuelled car]], [[Cold Fusion]] or the [[Felix Würth AG]].

Closely related to the esoteric hypothesis of Free Energy is the idea of a [[Perpetual Motion|perpetual motion]] device. Such a device is not possible, as its existence would violate the thermodynamic laws of energy conservation in physics. Free Energy supporters often use the term "overunity" to express that these machines allegedly produced more usable energy than is fed into them (efficiency > 1). A number of frauds and profiteers offer commercial "free energy machines" or generators. In addition, fisherman's stories of an alleged suppression of the invention are often spread. Typical examples are [[Water-fuelled car]], [[Cold Fusion]] or [[Felix Würth AG]].

As usual in other [[pseudoscience]]s, there is no common nomenclature among the exponents of free energy. There are several alternative terms which are used as synonyms for free energy. Some of them are:

As usual in other [[pseudoscience]]s, there is no common nomenclature among the exponents of Free Energy. There are several alternative terms which are used as synonyms for Free Energy, as e.g.:

*Nonconventional energy

*Nonconventional energy

*Vacuum energy

*Vacuum energy

Some of these terms have other meanings in science so that proponents of free energy can plead that free energy was known and researched in scientific physics, too.

Some of these terms have other meanings in science so that proponents of Free Energy can argue that free energy was known and researched in scientific physics, too.

The terms '''space energy''', '''vacuum energy''' and '''zero-point energy''', intend to suggest a relation to quantum mechanics, where systems in bound state at absolute zero still possess quantum mechanical zero-point energy. Zero-point energy in quantum mechanics has nothing to do with an inexhaustible energy source and the conservation of energy principles apply strictly in quantum mechanics.

The terms '''space energy''', '''vacuum energy''', and '''zero-point energy''' intend to suggest a relation to quantum mechanics, where systems in bound state at absolute zero, but still possess quantum mechanical zero-point energy. Zero-point energy in quantum mechanics has nothing to do with an inexhaustible energy source and the conservation of energy principles apply strictly in quantum mechanics.

The existence of a free energy field from which suitable machines can draw energy is not documented and there is no agreement how such a proof could be obtained. There are even no clues of what kind such a field should be. Authors postulating such a field implicitly assume that it would be of "psychic" or [[subtle energy]] nature and would not interact in a measurable way with the physical world – just with free energy machines. It is to assume that the term free energy or space energy is used as an ersatz hypothesis solely to avoid the term perpetual motion which is known as fiction, and would result in immediate rejection by the audience and potential customers. The concept of free energy corresponds to usual esoteric concepts. Furthermore, free energy is a serious term from physics, the concept of which is not known to or understood by many.

The existence of a free energy field from which suitable machines can draw energy is not documented and there is no agreement in which way such a proof could be obtained. There are even no clues of what kind such a field should be. Authors postulating such a field implicitly assume that it would be of "psychic" or [[subtle energy]] nature and not interact in a measurable way with the physical world – just with free energy machines. It must be assumed that the term Free Energy or space energy is used as an ersatz hypothesis solely to avoid the term perpetual motion which is known for a fiction, and its use will result in immediate rejection by the audience and potential customers. The concept of Free Energy corresponds to usual esoteric concepts. Furthermore, free energy is a serious term from physics, the concept of which is not known to or understood by many.

==Business models and fraud==

==Business models and fraud==

In the past, several attempts to market free energy investment methods with fraudulent intent were promoted. An overview can be found here: [[Free-Energy-Business-models]]. Whereas not all these frauds refer to the term ''free energy'', they share the unfounded claims and the ultimate failure.

In the past, several attempts were promoted to market Free Energy investment methods with fraudulent intent. An overview can be found here: [[Free Energy Business models]]. While not all these frauds apply the term ''Free Energy'', they do share the unfounded claims and the ultimate failure.

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{{OtherLang|ge=Freie Energie|en=Free Energy}}