It was actually Isaac Newton who first discovered the concept of energy. In his famous book “Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica”, Newton described how energy could be converted between different forms. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the term “energy” was actually coined.
Other related questions:
Q: Who discovered the kinetic energy?
A: The kinetic energy was discovered by Isaac Newton in his work on classical mechanics.
Q: Who discovered the potential energy?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question as it is not clear who first realized that potential energy exists. It is likely that many people throughout history have had some understanding of the concept, but it is not until the late 18th century that the term “potential energy” was first used. In 1746, Swiss mathematician Johann Bernoulli published a book called “Hydrodynamica” in which he discussed the concept of energy and its relationship to work. He did not use the term “potential energy,” but he did discuss the idea of energy being stored in a body due to its position. It was not until the 19th century that the concept of potential energy began to be widely accepted by scientists.
Q: Who discovered potential energy and when?
A: The concept of potential energy was first identified by Sir Isaac Newton in his work Principia Mathematica, published in 1687.