View Full Version : semantics question
1 - energy is the ability to do work
2 - energy doesn't create nor destroy, only transforms
3 - then the ability to do work doesn't create nor destroy, only transforms.
Is it not a definition of perpetual working proccesses?
HallsofIvy
Aug2-03, 07:23 AM
No.
Aside from the fact that your statement: "energy doesn't create nor destroy, only transforms" doesn't make sense (it should be "energy is not created or destroyed"), the very first part is wrong: "energy is the ability to do work" should be "DIFFERENCE IN energy is the ability to do work" (in particular, potential energy is defined only to within an additive constant).
If every point in the universe had the same energy (the "heat death" of the universe), then there would exist energy but there would be no abiiity to do work because there would be no difference in energy.
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