Energy vs. Matter: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 9, 2024
Energy is the capacity to do work or cause change, existing in forms like heat or light, while matter is physical substance occupying space and having mass.
Key Differences
Energy is an intangible force capable of causing change or performing work, seen in forms like kinetic or thermal energy. Matter, on the other hand, is tangible, consisting of particles and having mass and volume.
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Jan 09, 2024
Energy is measured based on its effect (e.g., joules or calories), as it doesn't occupy physical space or have mass. Matter is measured by its mass and volume, occupying space and having physical presence.
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Jan 09, 2024
Energy can be converted between various forms (like mechanical, electrical, chemical) but cannot be created or destroyed. Matter can change form (solid, liquid, gas) and can also be converted to energy (as per E=mc²).
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Jan 09, 2024
Energy drives the processes of the universe, from powering stars to fueling life. Matter constitutes the physical universe, forming everything from galaxies to living organisms.
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Jan 09, 2024
The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Matter, subject to laws like conservation of mass, can neither be created nor destroyed in a closed system.
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Jan 09, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Intangible capacity to do work or cause change
Physical substance with mass and volume
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Measurement
Measured by its effect (e.g., joules, calories)
Measured by mass and volume
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Forms
Various forms like kinetic, thermal, electrical
Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma states
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Role in Universe
Drives processes like movement and life
Constitutes physical objects and organisms
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Conservation Law
Cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed
Neither created nor destroyed in a closed system
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Energy and Matter Definitions
Energy
The capacity to do work or cause physical change.
The wind turbine converts kinetic energy from the wind into electrical energy.
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Matter
Physical substance that occupies space and has mass.
Everything around us, from air to mountains, is made of matter.
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Energy
A measurable property that makes change or action possible.
Photosynthesis in plants converts solar energy into chemical energy.
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Matter
The material of the universe, existing in solid, liquid, gas, or plasma form.
Water is a common form of matter that exists naturally in three states.
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Energy
Power derived from physical or chemical resources.
The country is shifting its focus to renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
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Energy
A resource used to power systems or perform work.
Fossil fuels have been a dominant energy source for centuries.
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Energy
The strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.
After a good night's sleep, she felt full of energy.
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Energy
The capacity for work or vigorous activity
Who has the energy to climb that trail?.
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Matter
(Philosophy) In Aristotelian and Scholastic use, that which is in itself undifferentiated and formless and which, as the subject of change and development, receives form and becomes substance.
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Energy
Also energies Exertion of vigor or power
A project requiring a great deal of time and energy.
Devoted her energies to writing songs.
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Matter
The substance of thought or expression as opposed to the manner in which it is stated or conveyed.
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Energy
Vitality and intensity of expression
A speech delivered with energy and emotion.
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Matter
A subject of concern, feeling, or action
Matters of foreign policy.
A personal matter.
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Energy
(Informal) A nonphysical force or quality perceived as inhering in a particular place, person, or situation
Was turned off by the group's negative energy.
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Energy
Usable heat or power
Each year Americans consume a high percentage of the world's energy.
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Matter
An approximated quantity, amount, or extent
The construction will last a matter of years.
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Matter
To be of importance
"Love is most nearly itself / When here and now cease to matter" (T.S. Eliot).
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Energy
A form, amount, or level of this capacity
"a searing beam of 30 trillion protons, with energies up to 50 million electronvolts" (Science News).
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Matter
(physics) The basic structural component of the universe, usually having mass and volume.
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Energy
(physics) A quantity that denotes the ability to do work and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance²/time² (ML²/T²) or the equivalent.
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Energy
An intangible, modifiable force (often characterized as either 'positive' or 'negative') believed in some New Age religions to emanate from a person, place or thing and which is (or can be) preserved and transferred in human interactions; shared mood or group habit; a vibe, a feeling, an impression. aura.}}
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Matter
Material, especially in books or magazines.
He always took some reading matter with him on the plane.
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Energy
The external actions and influences resulting from an entity’s internal nature (ousia) and by which it is made manifest, as opposed to that internal nature itself; the aspect of an entity that can affect the wider world and be apprehended by other beings.
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Matter
(philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.
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Energy
A measure of how many actions a player or unit can take; in the fantasy genre often called magic points or mana.
Action points
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Matter
An affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic.
Is much the matter with the old plan?
Something is the matter with him.
State matters
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Energy
Internal or inherent power; capacity of acting, operating, or producing an effect, whether exerted or not; as, men possessing energies may suffer them to lie inactive.
The great energies of nature are known to us only by their effects.
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Energy
Power efficiently and forcibly exerted; vigorous or effectual operation; as, the energy of a magistrate.
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Energy
Strength of expression; force of utterance; power to impress the mind and arouse the feelings; life; spirit; - said of speech, language, words, style; as, a style full of energy.
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Matter
(obsolete) (The) inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.
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Energy
(physics) the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs;
Energy can take a wide variety of forms
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Matter
To be important.
The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.
Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter.
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Energy
Enterprising or ambitious drive;
Europeans often laugh at American energy
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Energy
An imaginative lively style (especially style of writing);
His writing conveys great energy
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Matter
That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment.
He is the matter of virtue.
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Energy
A healthy capacity for vigorous activity;
Jogging works off my excess energy
He seemed full of vim and vigor
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Matter
That of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance.
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Energy
The federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977
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Matter
That with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme.
Son of God, Savior of men! Thy nameShall be the copious matter of my song.
Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge.
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Matter
That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business.
To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology.
Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice.
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Dec 27, 2023
Matter
Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; - chiefly in the phrases what matter? no matter, and the like.
A prophet some, and some a poet, cry;No matter which, so neither of them lie.
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Matter
Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.
And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.
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Matter
Amount; quantity; portion; space; - often indefinite.
Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles.
I have thoughts to tarry a small matter.
No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before.
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Matter
Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.
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Matter
That which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; - opposed to form.
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Matter
Written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing.
Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.
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Matter
To be of importance; to import; to signify.
It matters not how they were called.
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Matter
To regard as important; to take account of; to care for.
He did not matter cold nor hunger.
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Matter
That which has mass and occupies space;
An atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter
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Matter
A vaguely specified concern;
Several matters to attend to
It is none of your affair
Things are going well
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Matter
Some situation or event that is thought about;
He kept drifting off the topic
He had been thinking about the subject for several years
It is a matter for the police
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Matter
(used with negation) having consequence;
They were friends and it was no matter who won the games
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Matter
Written works (especially in books or magazines);
He always took some reading matter with him on the plane
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Matter
The substance or substances of which any physical object is composed.
Scientists analyze the matter of an unknown object to determine its composition.
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Matter
Any material that takes up space and has weight.
In chemistry, students learn about different states of matter like solids, liquids, and gases.
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Matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
Even though air is invisible, it is still matter because it occupies space and has mass.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is energy?
Energy is the capacity to perform work or cause physical changes.
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Jan 09, 2024
Is matter energy?
Matter contains energy and can be converted into energy, but they are not the same.
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How is matter defined?
Matter is any substance that has mass and occupies space.
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Is light energy or matter?
Light is a form of energy, specifically electromagnetic radiation.
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How do we use energy in daily life?
Energy is used in various forms, like electricity for appliances, and fuel for transportation.
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What is an example of matter changing form?
Water turning into ice or steam demonstrates matter changing from liquid to solid or gas.
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What are the different states of matter?
Matter commonly exists in solid, liquid, gas, and plasma states.
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Can energy be converted into matter?
Yes, under certain conditions, energy can convert into matter (and vice versa), as explained by Einstein's E=mc².
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How is energy stored?
Energy can be stored in various ways, such as in batteries, or as potential energy in objects.
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Can matter be created or destroyed?
In normal conditions, matter cannot be created or destroyed, only change form.
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Jan 09, 2024
What is the law of conservation of energy?
This law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
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Jan 09, 2024
What is the most common form of matter in the universe?
Plasma is the most common state of matter in the universe, found in stars.
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How is energy measured?
Energy is measured in units like joules, calories, or kilowatt-hours.
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Jan 09, 2024
Is air considered matter?
Yes, air is matter as it has mass and takes up space.
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What role does energy play in the ecosystem?
Energy drives biological processes and ecosystems, like in the food chain.
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What is potential energy?
Potential energy is stored energy that has the potential to do work.
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How does temperature affect matter?
Temperature changes can cause matter to change state, like ice melting.
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Can matter exist in a vacuum?
Yes, matter can exist in a vacuum, though it may behave differently than in an atmosphere.
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Jan 09, 2024
Does the state of matter affect its energy content?
Yes, changes in the state of matter can involve changes in energy content.
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Jan 09, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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