Conservation law of child's blocks analogy

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the conservation law analogy presented in Feynman's Lectures on Physics, specifically regarding the concept of conservation of energy as illustrated through a child's blocks. The analogy emphasizes that if a child possesses n blocks, the total number of blocks remains constant, regardless of their location. Participants speculate on the origins of this analogy, suggesting that while Feynman popularized it, he likely adapted it from earlier sources. The consensus is that Feynman's version is the most recognized in print.

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Conservation law of child's blocks analogy
In Feynman's Lectures on Physics volume one there is an analogy to conservation of energy (though it would equally apply to other types of conservation). The idea is that if a child has n blocks we should always expect there to be n blocks. We may find the blocks somewhere we do not expect or find blocks from somewhere else, but we should find the n blocks each time. I have seen this analogy ripped of many times. What I want to know is did it start with Feynman or did he rip it off from somewhere else.
 
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He almost certainly ripped it from someplace else - but, afaict, he beat everyone into popular print.
 

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