Energy: What is it? Can Objects Be Made of It?

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In summary, energy is a quantity computed by an observer and is not an intrinsic property of objects or a material. It is a property of an object or system and is often used as a tool to describe and predict the world around us. Matter and energy are not necessarily the same thing, and photons are not just bits of energy but have multiple properties.
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Bradfordly1
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Can something be made up of energy? Or is energy ONLY just a property of objects?
 
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Bradfordly1 said:
Can something be made up of energy? Or is energy ONLY just a property of objects?
Energy is a quantity computed by an observer, not an intrinsic property of objects or a material.
 
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Energy is a property of an object or a system of objects. Some think of it as merely "bookkeeping", meaning that energy is something that we use to help us describe the world around us and make useful predictions, but that it isn't something in and of itself. That it doesn't "really" exist.

My signature has an amusing anecdote on this very topic. Thanks go to @OmCheeto for it.
 
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As far as I know matter and energy are the same thing. And energy can neither be created nor destroyed. But scientists don't know a lot about dark matter or energy. So energy always exists. But facts can change if they know more about dark matter or energy .
 
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Aren't photons bits of energy?
 
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mathman said:
Aren't photons bits of energy?
No, they are excitations of the electromagnetic field and have several properties, only one of which is energy.
 

FAQ: Energy: What is it? Can Objects Be Made of It?

What is energy?

Energy is a property of matter that allows it to do work or cause change. It can exist in many forms such as heat, light, motion, and electricity.

Can objects be made of energy?

No, objects cannot be made of energy because energy is a property of matter and cannot exist on its own. Objects can contain energy, but they are not made of it.

How is energy transferred between objects?

Energy can be transferred between objects through various processes such as conduction, convection, and radiation. These processes involve the movement of particles or waves carrying energy from one object to another.

What is the law of conservation of energy?

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another. This means that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant.

How is energy measured?

Energy is measured in joules (J) in the metric system. Other common units of energy include calories, kilowatt-hours, and electron volts. The specific unit used depends on the type of energy being measured.

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