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Where does the heat that produces geothermal energy come from?

Heat is motion (vibration of atoms) so if an atom goes one direction it must stop and go the other direction. Were does the energy come from?

  • I'm thinking of the heat of an atom in terms of Newtonian motion and I can't understand how can an atom stop without touching anything and then accelerate in the opposite ...show more

  • Answer:

    The internal forces between atoms make the atoms change directions. As a very crude analogy, think of a pendulum swinging backwards and forwards. If there is no friction it will 'vibrate' for ever. Its energy cyclically changes between kinetic and potential energy.

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You say "I can't understand how can an atom stop without touching anything.." Of course it touches 'something'...other atoms. One atom alone will not vibrate, but just move in one direction. Many atoms are bumping into each other, like people on a crowded bus. The more energy (heat) is present, the harder they bump (faster the vibrations). So Newtonian physics is applicable here, and no Quantum mechanics is needed.

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