Известия высших учебных заведений: Проблемы энергетики (May 2022)
On the issue of the modern interpretation of the meaning of the concept of «energy» and its properties
Abstract
THE PURPOSE. Within the framework of the fourth integral-differential stage of scientific knowledge development, the modern interpretation of matter as a set of mass and energy components, the paradigm of its multilevel organization (fields, substances, material bodies and megamaterial systems) and the features of «particle-wave dualism», an attempt was made to concretize the material essence of energy.METHODS. The method of solving the problem was to establish a causal relationship between the characteristic properties of «energy» and their carrier in the form of a specific kind of matter. A review of literature data on the evolution of understanding the concept of «energy» was carried out.RESULTS. The distinctive characteristics of energy from discrete forms of matter were determined. These are wave properties, the difference in the strength and extent of the energy continuums of gravitational, electrical, electromagnetic, chemical, nuclear, thermal and other types of energy, and the ability to have various in strength («energy») effects on discrete material objects and work in general. This provides the ability to bind the latter (by various types of bonds) as elements of objects in the form of individual atoms, chemicals (including molecular ones), cells, material bodies, etc. It was also shown that energy in combination with discrete varieties of material objects determines the forms of motion (physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, etc.), interactions and transformations of matter, including the transition from one of its varieties to the others (for example, chemical to thermal). The meaning of chemical, electrical, thermal and other types of energy was clarified.CONCLUSION. Thus, it was shown that energy is not just a property of matter, but an objective reality of the existence of continuous spatial forms of matter structural organization (energy material continuum) in the form of open and closed (within discrete varieties of matter) fields.
