Strangely if he quits blowing the weight is no longer floating, so I have to disagree.
If I replace on permanent magnet in this story with an electro magnet it immediately becomes a work operation because it only floats the 1 lb weight as long as the electric is on. Clearly the electric is the energy expended in the electro magnet/magnet trick. What is the energy expended in the PM/PM portions of the experiment since none is present then I guess nothing. In the blowing on the balloon obviously the only energy present is provided by the person doing the blowing. Take his energy out of the equation and the weight falls.
I thin any k6 science class could make these observations except the PM magnets because we have never attempted to definitely define the energy derived from the magnet.
“I thin any k6 science class “
I guess I should throw away my seven years of college majoring in engineering and go ask my grand-daughter which one of is right.
Please. Go take a physics course or at least stay in a Holiday Inn.
“Strangely if he quits blowing the weight is no longer floating, so I have to disagree.”
Blow against the side of your house with the same force. The wall does not move. How much work are you doing to the wall?
ZIP. Nada.