V
ENERGY
Below I give some examples of the different forms of energy
and energy values which represent them. While the individual forms of energy
are mostly measured in different units, – but can all be converted into
one another – here every value on the CGS – system (centimetre – gram –
seconds system), is referred to the unit called the erg.
This gives a better overall view of the phenomena and
their extent.1
1.) Energy of stationary mass: Every matter
is a manifestation of energy. Every kilo of any matter, this means 1 kilo
hay, 1 kilo diamonds, 1 kilo records,
represent the same rest mass energy unit, namely
9 . 1016 J
-
a person of 80 kg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,2 . 1018
J
-
the planet earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,4 . 1041
J
2.) Kinetic energy: every body has it, which
moves (relatively to another).
-
Kinetic energy of a pistols bullet with tha mass of 3 grammes
and the speed of 250 meters per second . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,4 . 101
J
-
Kinetic energy of a person weighing 80 kg,
who runs at a speed of 18 km per hour . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
. 103 J
-
Kinetic energy of the planet earth within the solar system
(speed of rotation around the sun is 30 km per second)
. . . . . . . . . . 2,7 . 1033
J
3.) Gravitational energy (gravity): this is
small in relation to other forms of energy
-
mutual attraction of two atoms in one atomic nucleus
. . . . . . . . . . . 6 . 10-50
J
-
mutual attraction of the particles of which a human being
is built,
altogether . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10-7 J
-
attraction between earth and sun . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,3 . 1033
J
4.) Electromagnetic energy: Under this category,
modern physics summarises (on the basis of quantum theory), a multitude
of forces: electromagnetic waves (from radio waves to visible light to
gamma radiation); electricity; all chemical energy, forces of deformation,
surface tension, Van der Waal forces, and so on.
-
bond energy of the electron to the atomic nucleus in the
hydrogen atom
(it consists just of one proton) . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,2 . 10-18
J
-
chemical energy content of one kg of coal (calorific value)
. . . . . . . 3 . 107
J
-
basic conversion of the energy of the human being
(storage of approximately 1000 calories of chemical energy
in ATP molecules and of their decomposition into ADP
molecules). . 4,2 . 106
J
-
surface tension of Lake Constance . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 . 107 J
-
sunbeam per minute on the illuminated side of the earth
. . . . . . . . . 1 . 1019
J
-
annual production of electric energy on earth in the year
1965 . . . . . 1,2 . 1019
J
5.) Nuclear energy: this is the bond energy
of the nucleons (protons and neutrons) within an atomic nucleus.
-
average bonding energy of a nucleon . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,3 . 10-12
J
-
amount of energy set free when the atom bomb
was exploded over Hiroshima . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,8 . 1013
J
-
energy of the hydrogen bomb, which does not get its energy
from fission,
but by the creation of a new element (fusion) with associated
"mass-deficit"2:
Fusion of 1 kg hydrogen into helium . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 . 1014
J
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Comments:
1 I owe the
elaboration of these values to Prof. Gerhard Ecker from the Institute of
Theoretical Physics.
2 Such fusion
is the main source of the energy of the sun and the stars.