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Re: [Phys-l] energy which can not do work



A surprisingly large amount of 'science kids' in h.s. have heard of zero
point energy. Few understand what it is. Most think it is a very
promising way of getting energy from nothing. Gotta fix that.

Every year I get questions asking how the government, military, NASA,
Los Alamos,... will use zero point energy.


Paul Lulai
Physics Instructor & Online Learning Coordinator
Saint Anthony Village Senior High School, ISD 282
3303 33rd Avenue N.E.
Saint Anthony Village, MN 55418

(w) 612-706-1144
(fax) 612-706-1140

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Chuck
Britton
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 9:06 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Cc: Forum for Physics Educators; JMGreen
Subject: [Phys-l] energy which can not do work

At 11:19 -0700 on 1/14/07, JMGreen wrote concerning Re: [Phys-l]
workable versus unworkable energy :

And I am still looking to hear of a system which has the property of
energy which can not do work.

It may be true that most HS physics students aren't familiar with the
zero point energy that quantum mechanics requires.

But doesn't this zero point energy pretty well satisfy the 'can't do
work' criterion?

So how WOULD this zero point energy fit into a 'work is real, energy
is not' picture.
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