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Lev Landau Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Words to describe a mass of energy?

Hi everybody,

Can someone please tell me some common layman words to describe a mass of energy?

For example:

- A beam of energy

- A sphere of energy

But what about an irregular-shaped mass of energy? Can I say "a chunk of energy"? I don't think I can, though, because my dictionary says "chunk" only applies to solid or thick materials or substances.

Thank you very much.
  

Top answer

Energy is not usually constrained into any particular shape. "beam of energy" is OK, but otherwise I can't quite envisage what sort of things you are referring to. Could you give an example of an "irregular-shaped mass of energy"?

— GPY

  • Energy is not usually constrained into any particular shape.
  • "beam of energy" is OK, but otherwise I can't quite envisage what sort of things you are referring to.
  • Could you give an example of an "irregular-shaped mass of energy"?
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8 Answers
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Energy is not usually constrained into any particular shape. "beam of energy" is OK, but otherwise I can't quite envisage what sort of things you are referring to. Could you give an example of an "irregular-shaped mass of energy"?
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Thank you. By "an irregular-shaped mass" of energy I meant a greatly deformed sphere of energy.
Are there any words to describe that distorted sphere?
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Lev Landau mass of energy?
Subatomic particles possess energy.
Mass can be converted to energy.

A boy on a swing has potential and kinetic energy.
A chemical system has chemical energy.
Electromagnetic radiation has energy.

What kind of energy are you trying to describe? Why do you want it in a particular "shape"?
The "shape
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Lev LandauThank you. By "an irregular-shaped mass" of energy I meant a greatly deformed sphere of energy.
Is this something that physically exists? If so, where would you find it? Or is it something made-up, like in a science-fiction story?
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"Blob" is the ordinary word for an amorphous, non-solid mass.
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Yes, it exists, for example, a ball lightning, or the fireballs you see a couple seconds after detonation in most explosions. When the energy is nearly spherical I agree it can be called a 'ball', but after it deforms or when it comes in a variant shape then what should it be called?
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Lev LandauYes, it exists, for example, a ball lightning, or the fireballs you see a couple seconds after detonation in most explosions. When the energy is nearly spherical I agree it can be called a 'ball', but after it deforms or when it comes in a variant shape then what should it be called?
I'm stumped I'm afraid. I can't think of anything better than "mass
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There is "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning" which then dissipates. (The expression "Great ***** of fire" may come from this.)
Other forms of lightning are bolts or streaks. These are jagged lines.
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