MadSci Network: Physics |
Scott The simplest answer would be to say Yes and No. But then this is a relativity question. Einstein derived the Equation E=M*C*C. It is well known as part of the relativity theory. This theory states that all matter is energy and all energy is matter. Energy = Mass * Speed of light squared. It is interesting that this theory states that the faster a object moves relative to a stationary observer the heavier the object will become in relation to the reference used by the observer. Electricity is an entity not to be understood easily. We cannot pin point what electricity is. Is it the flow of electrons or is the flow of energy that just distorts the position of electrons when current pass trough a conductor. The same for light – is it particles or is it waves – the Behavior points to both. We theorize to try and understand these concepts that we wish to manipulate to do something for us.We only study it's effects. In Einstein’s Equation we find Energy (E) and Matter (M) .According to the third part of the Equation (C) - the speed of light. Thus Energy and Matter is not two distinct entities – They are related by the speed at which light travels. One can not possibly classify Electricity or Light as pure matter or pure energy because we still don’t understand the underlying mysteries of the creation in such depth. If one could answer this one would hold the key to the Unified Field Theory. The best way to put the answer –All energy is matter and all matter is energy. These two just transforms from one shape to the other and then back depending on the environment that it find itself in. As a parable – Is water ice and is ice water – They are the same except that the energy contained in them differs. I would say Electricity is energy when I observe it as a wave propagating trough a medium – and electricity is matter when it is seen as electrons moving. It is both in a way because the electrons in a conductor move slower trough the medium than the actual wave. Hope the kids will understand how something can be different and yet be the same thing. The butterfly and the worm ? Cold and Heat....
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