Magic calorie-burning

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 37260

Marina wrote:
> In any case, when I originally had my "magic burns calories" idea, I 
> wasn't thinking of wizard weight problems at all; I was thinking 
> about the First Law of Thermodynamics: energy can be converted from 
> one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.  It may 
> be just the engineering geek in me coming to the surface, but I like 
> to think that magic doesn't just ignore the laws of physics -- it 
> has to work within them, but using totally different methods and 
> principles than science does.  So to cast a spell, potential energy 
> must be converted to kinetic/magical energy, and since there's no 
> evidence that wizards draw potential energy from an external source, 
> I assume it must come from the spell-caster him/herself.
>
> Marina

(Grey Wolf the Eddings-fan is back. Fear. Or better, just listen 
patiently once more)

In David Eddings' magical theory "Will and Word" (Belgariad/Mallorean), 
you shape reality with your will and then channel it into the real 
world by using a word (ANY word). It's something a bit like the will 
and the wand Potterverse has, although that's besides the point. In the 
Will and Word, you draw the appropiate energy from all around you (more 
powerful wizards can draw it from further afar). For example, if you 
want to create a ball of fire, you draw a little heat from the air, the 
ground, any living thing there is, etc. You draw it in, and then you 
channel it through the word. "Noone has the enough energy inside to do 
even the smallest of things". In Potterverse, it could happen more or 
less the same way. No cannon to back it up, just another possibility of 
having magic support the laws of thermodynamics.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf (Who is from a country were the fools day isn't celebrated on 
May 1st, and was somewhat surprised at today's home screen for HP4GU, 
until he realised the date - lucky he knows about English customs)