Do Rocks Absorb and Utilize Solar Energy?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter CocoLegendary
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Rocks
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the claim that rocks can absorb and utilize solar energy, particularly in the context of a rock necklace that a participant was advised to "charge" with sunlight. Participants explore the implications of this claim, questioning its validity and discussing related concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that while rocks can heat up in the sun, the idea of them being "charged" with solar energy lacks scientific basis and is dismissed as New Age belief.
  • One participant mentions that rocks containing radioactive materials can radiate energy as they decay, suggesting a different form of energy interaction.
  • Others highlight the interesting properties of rocks and minerals, encouraging exploration of geology and mineralogy.
  • A participant suggests directly asking the seller for clarification on what "charging" the rock entails, emphasizing the importance of understanding the claim before discussing it further.
  • There is mention of Himalayan salt lamps and their purported health benefits, which have been challenged by recent experiments, indicating skepticism towards claims related to rocks and energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the idea that rocks can be charged with solar energy, with multiple competing views on the nature of energy interactions in rocks. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of the original claim.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential for miscommunication and misinterpretation when discussing vague claims about energy storage in rocks, highlighting the need for clarity in such discussions.

CocoLegendary
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
TL;DR
I recently bought a rock necklace from a store and the seller asked me to charge it with the sun, so naturally I didn't believe it so I'm wondering if this is true.
Summary: I recently bought a rock necklace from a store and the seller asked me to charge it with the sun, so naturally I didn't believe it so I'm wondering if this is true.

Can rocks be charged with solar energy and if so what can you do with it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes. The sun will heat them up. You can use that to warm your skin.

Other than that, no.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: mfb, nsaspook, russ_watters and 2 others
CocoLegendary said:
Summary: I recently bought a rock necklace from a store and the seller asked me to charge it with the sun, so naturally I didn't believe it so I'm wondering if this is true.

Can rocks be charged with solar energy and if so what can you do with it?
As Daves says, you can heat them up. The rest is New Age woo woo BS.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jedishrfu
CocoLegendary said:
Summary: I recently bought a rock necklace from a store and the seller asked me to charge it with the sun,
I think he meant to say “charge it with the SunTrust Visa card”
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters, davenn, jedishrfu and 4 others
Oil and salt are better containers for solar heat.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jedishrfu
Rocks containing radioactive materials (e.g. pitchblende) will radiate energy as the radioactives decay.

https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/pitchblende
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uraninite
There are also luminescent minerals that can glow or otherwise express energy, and sometimes need to be acted upon by chemicals, electrical energy, stress and other things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminescence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Luminescent_minerals
There are fluorescent minerals that will glow in the presence of ultraviolet light:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescence...but I don't think that the seller is speaking of any of these things. From the context, it sounds kinda like the suggestion was some kinda New Agey mystical woo woo thing.

FWIW... rocks and minerals have a lot of VERY interesting properties. Start digging on the subjects of Geology generally, and slightly more particularly Mineralogy and Petrology.

Here is a fun place to start:

https://www.worldcat.org/title/gems...ng-and-using-rocks-and-minerals/oclc/21116813diogenesNY
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davenn, jedishrfu and DaveE
diogenesNY said:
From the context, it sounds kinda like the suggestion was some kinda New Agey mystical woo woo thing.
Ha. Why didn't I think of that :smile:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jedishrfu
CocoLegendary said:
Summary: I recently bought a rock necklace from a store and the seller asked me to charge it with the sun, so naturally I didn't believe it so I'm wondering if this is true.

Summary: I recently bought a rock necklace from a store and the seller asked me to charge it with the sun, so naturally I didn't believe it so I'm wondering if this is true.

Can rocks be charged with solar energy and if so what can you do with it?

Next time, ask the person directly. What does he/she mean by "charge it"? What exactly is the rock storing? Has he/she ever measured it and detected it? Etc.. etc.

Otherwise, you are trying to ask us to interpret what someone else told you. This is a recipe for a lot of miscommunication and misinterpretation.

Zz.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: mfb, Vanadium 50, jim mcnamara and 1 other person
@phinds - Great minds think alike :)

diogenesNY
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jedishrfu
  • #11
phinds said:
Ha. Why didn't I think of that :smile:
I think you are an innocent young man in a wicked wicked world. :blushing:
 
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: davenn
  • #12
I think we long left the basis of a serious scientific debate.

Thread closed.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davenn

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 125 ·
5
Replies
125
Views
7K
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K