Understanding Energy Transfer: From Atoms to Photons and Beyond

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanisms of energy transfer, specifically focusing on convection, conduction, and radiation. Participants explore the molecular basis of these processes, the nature of light energy as photons, and the implications of quantum mechanics on the concept of particles. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how energy is transferred at the molecular level, particularly in relation to convection, conduction, and radiation.
  • Another participant explains conduction as the transfer of energy through molecular collisions between hot and cold bodies.
  • Convection is described as energy transfer involving the movement of air molecules, with a clarification that only the rising of air constitutes convection.
  • Radiation is discussed as light energy causing molecular vibrations, with a suggestion that this can be understood as bombardment by photons.
  • A participant challenges the notion of particles in quantum mechanics, asserting that there are no real particles, which is contested by another participant who disagrees with this claim.
  • One participant expresses a hypothesis involving multiple dimensions and the vibrations of space, inviting critique and further explanation.
  • A later reply emphasizes the importance of understanding existing answers before proposing new hypotheses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of particles in quantum mechanics, with some asserting the reality of particles while others question this notion. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of the proposed hypothesis about dimensions and vibrations of space.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of convection and conduction, as well as the implications of quantum mechanics on the understanding of particles. Some assumptions about energy transfer mechanisms are not fully explored.

JoshWolff7
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I understand that convection, conduction, and radiation are the modes of transferring energy, but - molecularly - how does this work? Is it transferred from one atom to another? If so, why do physicists say that light energy is made of photons - particles? Referring to quantum mechanics, is it not true that there are no real such things as particles? If I was to hypothesize with the tool of parsimony, then I would say that there are many dimensions, and that the space itself can vibrate, its vibrations within itself vary in frequency and these variations make up everything...Anything wrong with that? Please prove me wrong and explain! I'm going to end this thread before I add another topic...
Thanks,
Josh
 
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JoshWolff7 said:
I understand that convection, conduction, and radiation are the modes of transferring energy, but - molecularly - how does this work?
Conduction: the molecules on the hot body are bouncing around more quickly than the molecules in the cold body. Bring them together, and the fast-moving molecules will hit the slow-moving ones, speeding them up while the fast-movers slow down.

Convection: just like conduction, except that it's the molecules of air around the hot body that receive the energy from the fast-moving molecules. Then the air rises and its now-faster-moving molecules heat something else up.

Radiation: light energy strikes the molecules of an object, causing them to bounce around more quickly. You could think of that as bombarding the object with photons.

Referring to quantum mechanics, is it not true that there are no real such things as particles?
No, not true.

If I was to hypothesize with the tool of parsimony, then I would say that there are many dimensions, and that the space itself can vibrate, its vibrations within itself vary in frequency and these variations make up everything...Anything wrong with that? Please prove me wrong and explain! I'm going to end this thread before I add another topic...

You're getting ahead of yourself here... Don't go hypothesizing new answers to questions until you know which questions already have answers.
 
Nugatory said:
You're getting ahead of yourself here... Don't go hypothesizing new answers to questions until you know which questions already have answers.

That notice should be nailed at the top of every thread!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Just to precise a bit Nugatory's answer:
Nugatory said:
Convection: just like conduction, except that it's the molecules of air around the hot body that receive the energy from the fast-moving molecules. Then the air rises and its now-faster-moving molecules heat something else up.
Actually, only the part where "air rises" is convection. The body-to-air and air-to-air parts are still conduction. Convection appears whenever energy moves with the object (e.g. hot liquid moving up due to pressure difference... and that's the extend of my knowledge for natural cases of convection)

Nugatory said:
Radiation: light energy strikes the molecules of an object, causing them to bounce around more quickly. You could think of that as bombarding the object with photons.
Another part of radiation is the light (mostly infrared at usual temperatures) emitted by an object, which uses up some fraction of the molecules' energy. So any warm object without conduction or incoming radiation will eventually cool down.
 
Thank you everyone!
 

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