What is Energy? Seeking Clarity on a Confusing Topic

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter sanjib ghosh
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Confusing Energy Topic
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of energy, exploring its definitions, implications in physics, and the confusion surrounding its nature, particularly in relation to mass-energy equivalence in special relativity (STR). The scope includes conceptual clarification and exploratory reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion over the definition of energy, referencing its relation to time translational invariance and conservation laws.
  • The same participant suggests that everything can be converted into energy, leading to the conclusion that everything is essentially energy, while acknowledging the problems in thinking this way.
  • Another participant notes that this question is common and provides links to previous discussions on the topic.
  • A third participant shares a link to a blog post that may provide additional insights.
  • A later reply appreciates the shared link as useful.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definition or understanding of energy, and multiple viewpoints and sources are presented without resolving the confusion expressed.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of defining energy and the potential for misunderstanding its implications in physics, particularly regarding mass-energy equivalence.

sanjib ghosh
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
I have seen some definition like,
It is a quantity that is coming from the time translational invariance. or a quantity that should be conserved in some process.
But I am not able to understand what exactly energy is?
In STR mass even can convert into energy, that also make me so confused. So everything can be converted into energy.
I conclude that everything is actually nothing but energy.
But I find still there are lot of problem of thinking in that way.

Please help!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php?b=3203

Zz.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
^ Ah, that's a useful page. Bookmarked!
 

Similar threads

High School Does Energy Exist as a Physical Entity or Merely a Mathematical Concept?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
High School Everything Energy? My Thoughts on the Question
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Conservation of Energy: Ball on a U-Shaped Ramp
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
High School Energy is Matter is Energy? - confused layman here
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
Undergrad Distinctions among the concepts: mass, matter, energy
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Conservation of Momentum Problem - Mechanical and Kinetic Energies
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
High School Solving Confusion with Waves in Physics
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School The relationship between mass, light and energy
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
2K
High School What particle represents the mass-energy conversion in a proton?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Confusion about energy conversion mechanisms in gas turbines
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K