Is it energy, energy change, or action?

[mheslep]

In addition to pointing out (as cited earlier) that energy is a 'concept' about which we find certain abstractions hold in all known circumstances, Feynman also http://sites.google.com/site/physics121rochester/physics-phacts/feynmanonconservationofenergy" in that same text:

It is important to realize that in physics today, we have no knowledge of what energy is. We do not have a picture that energy comes in little blobs of a definite amount. It is not that way. [...] It is an abstract thing in that it does not tell us the mechanism or the reasons for the various formulas.

 

[nortonian]

What is 'real' is tricky, since it depends on your definition of real. But Einstein's relativity gives the framework to say that the physics of the system according to each reference frame is just as correct as any other.

I understand now. It's like the snowflake theory. No two snowflakes are alike so an infinite number of possibilities for snowflakes exists. There is even a snowflake equation that generates solutions satisfying all the possible types of snowflakes. The mathematical solutions are just as real as actual snowflakes because they satisfy the laws of nature in every respect the same as the snowflakes that we can see and touch. Because no one has ever found a snowflake different than what the snowflake equation predicts we know that this interpretation is correct and that the predicted snowflakes are just as real as actual snowflakes. The only way you can disprove the snowflake theory is to produce one that does not obey the snowflake equation.

You are free to pursue “your definition of real” as you wish, but because I do not believe I have the power to define my own reality it is useless to continue this discussion.

 

[BruceW]

I don't really like the snowflake analogy. A mathematical solution may approximate a real snowflake, but it won't be exactly the same as the real snowflake.
I don't see how this snowflake theory has anything to do with relativity...
I do like your stance on reality though.

 

[nortonian]

Relativistic energy, yes. Energy is proportional to mass in Relativity.

I have been away, but while away your comment kept nagging me.

Why are you distinguishing relativistic energy from energy? I asked if the bathroom scale measures the same energy for a person and for a rock. They do not. The rock has thermal energy not measured by the scale. The person also has thermal energy, kinetic energy, and em energy none of which are measured by the scale. Why is it so difficult to see that the person has much greater energy than the rock? Even an atom has binding energy which is not included in your so-called "relativistic energy" and would not be measured by a scale. Where is there an exact definition of relativistic energy? You are apparently using this term very loosely.