Person Invites The Internet To Give One Good Reason The Magnet Truck Won’t Work

The Random Realm
2 min readDec 15, 2023

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In a whimsical exploration of unconventional vehicle propulsion, an individual has invited the internet to provide a single valid reason why the concept of a magnet truck wouldn’t function. This imaginative idea involves affixing a large magnet to the front of a vehicle and propelling it forward with a second magnet strategically positioned just out of reach.

However, the tongue-in-cheek proposal encounters a fundamental challenge rooted in the laws of physics. The laws in question include Newton’s First Law of Motion, stating that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. Additionally, Newton’s Third Law of Motion asserts that when one object exerts a force on a second object, an equal and opposite force is exerted by the second object on the first.

The crux of the matter lies in the realization that the magnet, despite its allure as a potential driving force, is intrinsically connected to the vehicle. Tethered by a bar and/or rope, the magnet and the vehicle form a unified system. As a consequence, the attractive forces between the magnets cancel each other out within the same system, resulting in a stationary state.

To underscore the point, the article draws an analogy with an alternative force, such as a stretched-out giant rubber band. While a person walking in front of a car towing a stretched rubber band imparts an attractive force, attempting to achieve forward propulsion by extending the rubber band from within the car proves impractical.

In essence, the lighthearted proposal challenges the concept of achieving perpetual motion through magnetism, prompting a humorous exploration of the limitations imposed by the laws of physics.

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