I have a question about conservation of energy

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of conservation of energy, specifically through detailed examples of energy transitions in scenarios such as playing pool. Participants explore the pathways of energy transfer during collisions and the subsequent effects on energy states.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a scenario involving a cue ball striking an 8 ball, highlighting the transfer of kinetic energy and the subsequent slowing of the cue ball.
  • Another participant suggests that the 8 ball hitting an elastic object could absorb energy over a longer duration compared to inelastic collisions.
  • There are mentions of the motion of molecular components and how energy transitions occur at that level.
  • Participants propose a sequence of energy transfers: from the cue stick to the cue ball, then to the 8 ball, and potentially to the wall of the pool table.
  • Discussion includes the idea that the kinetic energy of molecular components could lead to an increase in temperature of the wall.
  • One participant argues that all energy transfer results in heat, linking this to the concept of entropy and the eventual heat death of the universe.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the nature of energy transfer and its implications, indicating that multiple competing views remain. There is no consensus on the specifics of energy transitions or the ultimate fate of the energy involved.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of collisions (elastic vs. inelastic) and the definitions of energy types are not fully explored. The discussion also touches on statistical mechanics without delving into its complexities.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring concepts in physics, particularly those focused on energy conservation, thermodynamics, and the implications of energy transfer in physical systems.

FernandoRocker
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I have a question about conservation of energy...

So, I have a question about conservation of energy. I just want a detailed example of the path of the energy in some regular scenarios and the reach of it.

For example...

When playing pool, the cue ball is shot at a stationary 8 ball. The cue ball now has kinetic energy. When the cue ball hits the 8 ball, the kinetic energy transfers from the cue ball to the 8 ball, sending the 8 ball into motion. The cue ball loses energy because the energy it had has been transferred to the 8 ball, so the cue ball slows down.

So, now the 8 ball is in motion and then it hit a wall from the pool table and it stops. What happened to that energy?

I mean, I often see examples showing a simple transition.

Can you please describe more energy transitions in that example... let's say... 10?

EDIT: Sorry for my English... not my primary language.
 
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The 8 ball hit an elastic object that absorbed the energy over a longer time then bal-ball inelastic collisions.
 
motion of the molecular components.
 
For example...

Energy from the cue stick > kinetic energy to the cue ball > kinetic energy to the 8 ball > energy transferred to the wall of the pool table? What kind? > ? > ? > ?
 
kinetic energy of the molecular components. Just think of the wall as it is composed with a huge number of billiard balls.
 
GiuseppeR7 said:
kinetic energy of the molecular components
OK. Then what happens to that kinetic energy of the molecular components?
 
since energy is conserved and from thermodynamics we can say that this is equivalent to saying that we increase the temperature of the wall. This motion of the molecules is then eventually transferred to the environment. The details can be argued from a field called statistical mechanics.
 
All energy transfer results in heat. Take the original kinetic energy equate it to heat then subtract each collision. The final result is the heat death of the universe. Entropy will not be denied.
 

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