Re: Energy as ability to do work

[Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>]

Energy is simply the answer to the question:  Can we define some
calculable numerical quantity which never changes numerical value as an
isolated system (or the universe) evolves in time?  Its essence is simply
a calculable conserved number.  Any other of its properties will arise by
examining its role in specific circumstances.

In the same way, linear and angular momenta are the result of our search
for conserved vectors and pseudo-vectors.

These queries answer the question:  Is this game which I observe (Physics)
a zero sum game? Is there a definable property of the interacting entities
whose sum, over the entities, is unchanging?

Bob

Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
trebor@velocity.net
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Edmiston <edmiston@BLUFFTON.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: Energy as ability to do work
> . . .
> I am curious if any of you have developed statements about energy that
> are less wrong than "ability to do work" but more tangible than "a
> useful concept."
> Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D