This year's Alan Alda flame challenge question

What is energy? Explain to an eleven year old what energy is.

My answer: energy is, of the three possible states, including nothingness, the state of existence besides matter.

My original reply here was straying a bit off the topic, methinks. I'll give the latter its proper chance to develop as it should, before re-posting at a later date.

The answer doesn’t have to be short, elte.  It just has to be clear.  Sorry, but your answer isn’t correct or clear.  Great topic, though.  This is the first I've heard of it. Thanks for sharing it, elte.

Did you happen to watch any of the previous entries?  Here’s the winning video from 2014.


And here’s another one from three scientists with their take on what color is.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/gAFWJGK0G_A

Secular Sanity, I hope you are doing ok.  Well, I'm neither a good writer (never had very much talent) nor have a degree qualifying me to really say a lot.  If I say those are the only three states that I am considering, not concerned if that is really technically true according to popular professional consensus, does that make you more accommodating?  I purposely left out, -energy is the capacity to do work-, because the more I tend to write, the less understood that I actually tend to become--like a catch 22.  Often times people don't understand me because I tend to leave out things that I am thinking because I can't figure out how to include them.  It just takes me too long to write, too often with iffy results.

 I tend not to watch many videos.  I'm too ADD or something.

(Oct 30, 2016 03:56 PM)elte Wrote: If I say those are the only three states that I am considering, not concerned if that is really technically true according to popular professional consensus, does that make you more accommodating?

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.  I always appreciate your input, though.

Thank you. I'm really just asking about accepting my input as some of my thoughts that might seem incomplete, although, I don't want to say, really, that I might have other thoughts to give on subjects at hand at any particular time.

(Oct 30, 2016 05:05 PM)elte Wrote: Thank you.  I'm really just asking about accepting my input as some of my thoughts that might seem incomplete, although, I don't want to say, really, that I might have other thoughts to give on subjects at hand at any particular time.

Well, I don’t know about that but friendship is tit for tat.  You shared an interesting topic, and since you don’t like videos, I can offer you a saying about light that I came up with.  It’s true, as far I can tell.  I put it on candles for Christmas gifts last year.

Nothing happens at once.  At once is not everywhere.  Only light is everywhere and everywhere at once.

Good day to you, elte. 

Thank you for that gift saying, Secular Sanity.  I will try to remember and reflect on it.  Best wishes.