Perpetual Motion Machines and the laws of Thermodynamics

In the summer of 1986 Joseph Newman came before a committee of the United States Senate presenting a machine that he claimed would convert mass into energy according to the E=mc2 equation. Newman proposed that his invention would produce more energy than it consumed and due to the size of time related with c2 (the speed of light squared) this machine would be functional for an eternity. Joe Newman said that he had discovered a way to give the world free energy.
Newman’s claims go against what we understand to be the components of physical reality. The initial reason is revealed in the law of conservation, which states that energy cannot be either created or destroyed. Simply stated, the amount of energy produced from anything cannot exceed the amount consumed by it. Regardless of making an appeal to knowledge, Einstein’s equation in this instance, the claim cannot be concurrent with our standards of science and technology, or the laws of the universe for that matter. These claims are logically founded, yet not physically possible.
The second law of thermodynamics; The law of Entropy leads us to once again grasp at the contents of our scientific understanding of physical reality. The law of Entropy explains that when energy is used there is also a loss of energy that takes place in the process. In consideration of this law, not only will Newman’s machine (or any machine) fail to output more energy that it requires to operate, but will actually produce less energy than is processed. Thus, the claim, though logically founded, is not physically possible.
To entertain Joe Newman’s claim further and take Einstein’s equation into consideration, we are beckoned to explore the solution. The E=mc2 equation, or “The theory of special relativity” rather, unified the law of conservation of energy and the conservation of mass, thus explaining the eternal conversions from mass to energy and energy to mass. The law of conservation still applies. In order for the appeal to knowledge to be credible in this instance, the association derived from this equation would have to change the law of conservation of energy. It clearly does not, in contrast, it reinforces the law with more proof of its reality in conjunction with certain applications.
Newman’s argument claimed also that according to the Special Theory of Relativity his machine could operate within these guidelines of converting energy into mass and mass into energy by multiplying mass by the speed of light squared. The problem here being that in order for this transformation to be successful the machine would be forced to rely on its own mass to produce energy. However, according to the law of Entropy there would be an undeniable loss, or consumption. Thus, the machine would be forced to feed on its mass, which would, in turn, devour the machine and the components that make it functional, resulting in eventual or immediate failure.
The dream of free energy is appealing and our sophisticated world could greatly benefit from it, yet I’m afraid obtaining this wonder from a perpetual motion device is not physically possible. The laws of Thermodynamics clearly state there will always be a price to pay.