What Is Energy? | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains…

What is energy? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore what energy is, where it comes from, and how to release it.

How did the idea of energy come to be? Is energy different from matter? Learn about how early scientists thought about energy, kinetic versus potential energy, and how energy gets released. We discuss energy in food, fuel, bombs, and the sun. It is energy that built civilization, but will it also destroy it?

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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 - Origins of Energy
3:25 - Storing Potential Energy
7:15 - Getting Energy Out of Molecules
10:17 - Calories
13:03 - Converting Energy for Civilization

[bharfbattlebrain]

One of the few things that I remember from my school science teachers... "Energy can not be created or destroyed, only transformed for one type to another." You guys did a great job of explaining this.

[youssefbh]

Just a little mistake here, "energy" in the French language is actually a very similar word: "énergie", but I get the point Dr. Tyson was trying to make, "calorie" used to measure food content comes from Latin, and means "heat", which ultimately gave words in the Romance languages spoken nowadays like Spanish "calor", Italian "calore" and French "chaleur" (they all mean "heat" btw)

[alexanderjohnson]

Everyone loves Neil, but we need some more Chuck. We need a Chucksplainer.

[donsuede]

When I watch your videos, it's not that I specifically learn something new. But learn a new way to think about something I thought I knew.

[BubbaBryce]

“I’m not fat I’m just filled with potential” 😂

[NextStopNovember]

Always love watching these two together. Great chemistry between them. Pun intended 😂

[Matt.Thompson.]

Thank you gentlemen for all you do for us eager learners. I was just thinking 🤔 I have the energy to donate to StarTalk. 😉❤️ StarTalk is one of the best things on you for making it so.

[wurnocy]

I have learned more in my life listening to these boys than ever in my life. There will never be enough Star Talk on this Earth for me.

[AceSpadeThePikachu]

Would love to see a follow-up to this all about entropy; the fundamental property of energy to spread out and equalize in any system it's in.

[UkDave]

I can (and often do) watch Neil content all day. I just wish that I could have had him as a teacher back when I was in high school, as he makes learning a pleasurable experience 👏👏

[KeldonA]

Chuck is quite extraordinary. I've watched enough of this series to know he knew the energy came from the sun, but he wanted to get Neil to ask the right question (like a sort of reverse Socratic method).

I'm just waiting for Chuck to publish a peer-reviewed physics paper ending not with a conclusion, but a punchline.

[brandtreppond]

I truly love the chemistry between you two. I learn with a smile. I smile not solely from the jokes and knowledge, but from seeing how much you two enjoy each other's company

[mikotagayuna]

One of the easiest ways to tell when someone is peddling charlatanry, pseudoscience or misinformation is how they constantly misuse or misrepresent the concept of energy.

[brendapolar]

Neil I am over here trying to focus on work!! Then I go and get a notification from you. Now I have to stop what I’m doing to listen wait to what you have to say!!😅

[ravenragnar]

Flawless video. Energy is a fundamental concept in physics that refers to the ability of a system to do work or cause a change. It is a scalar quantity that is measured in joules (J) or other units such as calories or electronvolts.

There are many different forms of energy, including:

Kinetic energy - energy that an object possesses due to its motion.
Potential energy - energy that an object possesses due to its position or configuration.
Thermal energy - energy associated with the temperature of a system or object.
Chemical energy - energy stored in the bonds between atoms and molecules.
Electrical energy - energy associated with the movement of electric charges.
Radiant energy - energy that travels through space as electromagnetic waves, such as light and radio waves.

Energy is the ability to cause change or do work. It comes in different forms like motion, position, temperature, bonds, electricity, and light. Energy can change from one form to another but the total amount of energy in a closed system remains the same. This means that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

[faelanuafintan]

"...a ballet of converting energy...". That makes so much sense that I was awe struck for a few minutes. The ballet dance of energy is constantly occurring....be it quickly (allegro) or slowly (adagio) or just stored at rest. The energy is just shifting around through principal dancers. Much thanks for the insight.

[easytriops]

That‘s great explanations! Yet the question still remains: What is even energy and where does it come from?

[Ravi-tskx]

This man shows you how fascinating physics can be... If only we would get the same kind of vibe and lessons from the teachers in school, the world would probably be a better place...

[merkov]

I love the childlike excitement of Niel for even the simplest concepts in Physics. That's the best motivation to never stop learning.

[lautabott_uy]

Love to see this editing going forward, 1080p with some videos referencing what is being talked about to make it easier to imagine what it would look like, amazing !