On a recent Physics quiz we had this question:

"True or False: An ideal machine will have an efficiency greater than 100%"

Now, my teacher was trying to see whether or not we knew that the energy you put into a machine will be equal to or less than the energy coming out of the machine. I got the answer right. However, a few people in my class are arguing that it was an unfair question because an ideal machine would have an efficiency greater than 100%. We think that my teacher should just omit the question because it can go either way. Would you answer true or false?

I'd circle both the answers. =]

Smartass

Our quizzes are on scantrons anyway so it would only count the first mark, which would be A (which was true) and it would be marked wrong.

I'd circle a and b.

Hey Hillary! Hilary?

Ahem. I'd bubble-in.. false. Because because.. how can you have more than 100% of your -- ah screw it.

*gasp* your name is hillary too?!

um.. i cant really help you out here because even though im in physics.. im not doing a very good job in there..

A machine is only as efficient as the human that makes it, imagine if it was built on an assembly line, many humans many mistakes. Even with the ideal machine, it still will make errors and make it under 100%.

thats impossible to exceed 100% efficiency since there is such a thing as "conservation of energy"

i dunno
i took physic AP in high school. and we never learn that question
all we learn is the complicated stuff.

I'd pick false. My guess, is, ideally, I'd want a machine to be 100% efficient. And I doubt they can be more than 100%, so yeah. Seems like a trick question though...

If it could go more, then wouldn't that cause a new 100% causing each amount of energy put in to represent a lower percentage? Something similar to if you ever play a game where you level up, you need a certain amount of experience to level up the first time. But you can do the same amount and get less of a percent. Get it? woah..headache...

it cant even get up to 100%

Lenz's law states that the induced current always causes a motor effect, which opposes the original flux change that caused the generator effect...

in other words when the motor effect is in place there will always be an opposing force...