A locomotive burns either coal or wood, and it heats a vat of water. It's got the stored chemical energy of the wood into the active thermal energy of the vibrating water molecules. All of this comes together and our ability to exploit that in the service of civilization is one of the great triumphs of physics," he says.
How is energy different from matter? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice break down what energy is and where it comes from, ancient theories about sight, and how wheels keep us moving. Explore physics, thermodynamics, and more!
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:
https://startalkmedia.com/show/things-you-thought-you-knew-what-is-energy/
Thanks to our Patrons Matt Smith, Matthew Tolbert, benjamin flanders, Nick Davis, Joseph, and Hemant Sudiwala for supporting us this week.
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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