Is matter a particular form of energy?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter CoolMint
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Form Matter
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the nature of physical matter and its relationship to energy, particularly from the perspective of quantum mechanics (QM). Participants explore whether matter can be considered a specific form of energy and how quantum particles are conceptualized within this framework.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that energy and mass are interdependent, suggesting that physical matter might be a peculiar type of energy that manifests as physical objects.
  • Others argue that while energy is a property of matter and fields, matter possesses additional properties such as momentum, angular momentum, and charge.
  • A participant questions the closest notion that describes physical matter from the perspective of QM, indicating that matter is described as quantum fields and their excitations.
  • Some participants assert that particles are distinct entities and that energy is merely a property of these entities, drawing an analogy to colors and objects.
  • There is a contention regarding the definition of "things," with some asserting that quantum particles are indeed "things," while others challenge this notion.
  • One participant emphasizes that particles cannot be equated with energy, momentum, or spin, and that the state of matter (solid, liquid, gas) is determined by molecular interactions as described by QM and chemistry.
  • Another participant suggests that the distinction between "things" and "not things" may be semantic rather than substantive in the context of physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the relationship between matter and energy, with no consensus reached on whether matter can be classified as a form of energy or how quantum particles should be defined.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying definitions and interpretations of fundamental concepts in physics, particularly concerning the nature of particles and energy, which may depend on specific theoretical frameworks.

CoolMint
Messages
133
Reaction score
55
TL;DR
The nature of physical matter
Energy and mass are interdependent and electrons can manifest as particles and fields as do all other particles, but is it generally true that physical(classical) matter is a peculiar type of energy that can(for some reason? What?) manifest as physical objects?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
CoolMint said:
Summary:: The nature of physical matter

Energy and mass are interdependent and electrons can manifest as particles and fields as do all other particles, but is it generally true that physical(classical) matter is a peculiar type of energy that can(for some reason? What?) manifest as physical objects?
:welcome:

Energy is a property of matter and fields, but matter and fields have other properties besides energy: momentum, angular momentum (both vector quantities) and charge, for example.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71, martinbn, gentzen and 1 other person
PeroK said:
:welcome:

Energy is a property of matter and fields, but matter and fields have other properties besides energy: momentum, angular momentum (both vector quantities) and charge, for example.
What is the closest notion that describes physical matter from the point of view of qm? Matter is far from being solid substance and we experience it via exchange particles. These exchange particles, if real, are energy, right?
 
CoolMint said:
What is the closest notion that describes physical matter from the point of view of qm?

Matter is described as quantum fields and their excitations.

CoolMint said:
particles, if real, are energy

No. Again, particles are "things", and energy is a property of those things. You don't say that red and apples are the same thing, and in the same way matter and energy are not the same thing.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71 and martinbn
weirdoguy said:
Matter is described as quantum fields and their excitations.
No. Again, particles are "things", and energy is a property of those things. You don't say that red and apples are the same thing, and in the same way matter and energy are not the same thing.
Quantum particles aren't really things and this is why I was looking for a close counterpart. It seems there is none.
 
CoolMint said:
Quantum particles aren't really things

I guess it depends how you define "things" but I think most of us here would agree (at the B level of this thread) that quantum particles ARE things and energy is not.
 
CoolMint said:
What is the closest notion that describes physical matter from the point of view of qm? Matter is far from being solid substance and we experience it via exchange particles. These exchange particles, if real, are energy, right?
Matter is decsribed by the standard model of particle physics, which is underpinned by QFT (Quantum Field Theory). Particle interactions (in particular the electromagnetic interaction) can be calculated by considering the exchange of virtual photons. Particles cannot be energy any more than particles can be momentum or can be spin. Particles have energy, momentum, charge and spin.

Why matter is solid, liquid or gas depends on how molecules bind together and that is described by QM and chemistry.
 
CoolMint said:
Quantum particles aren't really things and this is why I was looking for a close counterpart. It seems there is none.
Given that all matter is composed of quantum particles, then anything isn't really a thing! But, saying some things are things and some things aren't things is just playing with words. It's not physics.
 

Similar threads

High School The nature of anti-particles and anti-matter (a dilettante asks)
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
High School What percent of everyday-life electrons are collapsed?
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
4K
Undergrad Intersection of Condensed Matter Theory + High Energy Physics
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
High School Can energy be stored in a single particle indefinitely?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K
High School Frequency of an EM wave in Classical and Quantum Physics
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Is energy the same as matter in physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
High School Creation and annihilation operators in particle physics
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad What is the true nature of microscopic particles when not interacting?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Understanding the Interactions of Energy with Quantum Particles and Strings
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Non-wave solution to wave equation and virtual particles
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K