Define Energy

[Serpent7]

Hmmm... :S

Look, an atom is whizzing about in the air as a gas. What makes it do that?

You could say it does that because it has a lot of energy.

My question is "What is energy?".

You see, I am asking what is it in that atom that is causing it to move of its own accord? There are no forces like gravity acting on it as far as I know.


Teh Ekwee, you said:

"Energy IS the side effect of the speed of moving particles colliding with one another"

So how does the first particle begin to move? If you boil water, how do the particles suddenly become free?

[Teh EkwEE]

What you're asking then is nearly impossible to define, if we had a theoretical pysicist here we might solve it, but you could Google it j00 know?

[Todd]

Energy is catigorized within 5-7 different types, although don't bother me with spelling. However, I believe I'm missing some:

Mechanical
Chemical
Heat
Radiant (Light)
Electric
Sound
Nuclear

I believe Solar is catigorized as its own type, although it may be put with Radiant.

The "Law of Conservation" states that energy cannot be created nor distroyed. This is excluding Nuclear, by spliting atoms, and explosion is made, thus light energy, heat enery, and sound energy is created. Other then that, it can only be easily be converted into a different form.

For example:

The sun gives off Solar energy, the plants absorb it and convert in into chemical energy to grow and live, although, an animal comes by and eats it, converting it into another form of chemical energy. Man slaughters the animal and converts it into ANOTHER form of chemical energy, by eatting it. Then, its converted into mechanical energy by being used to work our muscules to complete tasks.

Or:


-Turn a Knob (Mechanical Energy) on a generator
-(Electric Energy) The generator then converts the energy into light energy in a light bulb
-The light bulb lights up (Radiant)

Electric-The flow of electrons
Mechanical-Physical Movement
Chemical-Chemically altering
Radiant-Gives off light
Nuclear-Small explosion of energy made by spliting atoms
Heat-High tempitures
Solar-Light Energy given off by the sun

The movement of particals and speed of them is determined by the tempiture of which an object is undergoing. And how solid an object is. That explains why and how and object melts, or forms more solidly when hot/cold.

I could go on and on babbling as I wait for server maintenence on BB is over, cause I have no life, but lunch is ready. Later. =x


EDIT: Work, in the scientific strict definition, is moving an object from one place to another. Lift a box is work. Hold even 1,000,000 pounds, but JUST holding it, is not doing work. Pushing a car but not getting anywhere is not doing work. But yes, its true that energy is the ability to do work.

EDIT EDIT: I'd forgotten to mention, the force opposing energy and motion is friction. It creates heat and un-used energy. That is why perpetual energy/motion control is immpossible. This supports Newtons laws and theorys.

[Serpent7]

Solar = Nuclear. ^^

What you say Todd is all correct, but again, that's what energy DOES, not what it IS. Hard, and annoying, isn't it.

Ekwee said:

"What you're asking then is nearly impossible to define, if we had a theoretical pysicist here we might solve it..."

Well, yah. But it's only NEARLY impossible. ^^
I don't want to Google it, this isn't a science homework or whatever, I'm just asking to create a discussion for my own personal interest.

[Dkgamer]

Its kind of hard to answer that question as there are so many diferent types of energy. The literal definition is 'an exertion of force'

[demeiz]

i am right, i know it, energy is the abilty to work

[Arrogantelf]

Ohhh.. hard one this. I'm not sure there is one exact definition of energy really. You can say energy is the ability to do mechanical work or in a physics sense i guess energy is a quantity that belongs to any physical system. Light energy intrigues me though, from light energy we get heat, the ability too see etc but is it(a photon) a particle of light, a light wave or a particle of energy or all of these, i dont know for sure.

[Mirinee]

Don't really see what you're getting at.

Why do atoms in the air move?
Heat. Heat is a form of energy. If the place were at 0 Kelvin then the atoms would not "move".
What's "move"? The atom is in a different place relative to an arbitrary point some time later. What's "place"? What's "time"?

Can't be answered because it's too fundamental.

[TheMaster375]

Energy is the ability to work, I know that much and this is not what it DOES it is what it IS. Energy IS the ability to work....I think.

[whiteninja]

Well, I think this question depends on something much more important...

It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.