Joule and Energy
James Joule
1818 -1889
In this podcast, Jack and Mark discuss the scientific meaning of the term "energy." Although it is a commonly used concept in everyday language today, its clear definition in physics took many years to develop and was associated with the work of a large number of scientists. However, the contributions of James Joule stand out as an example of how science makes progress even though there are formidable obstacles in the way. We owe our understanding of the relationship between motion and heat to the amazing insights and hard work of this nineteenth century British scientist.
Show Notes:
Selected Awards and Publications associated with James Joule:
Royal Medal
Awarded to James Joule in 1852,
for his paper on The Mechanical
Equivalent of Heat. (See below)
Awarded to James Joule in 1852,
for his paper on The Mechanical
Equivalent of Heat. (See below)
Copley Medal
The worlds oldest oldest prize in science (initiated in 1731).
Awarded annually for outstanding achievements in research. Joule won in 1870 for his "For his experimental researches on the dynamical theory of heat." No image of the medal won by Joule is available. But, this design was used throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
The worlds oldest oldest prize in science (initiated in 1731).
Awarded annually for outstanding achievements in research. Joule won in 1870 for his "For his experimental researches on the dynamical theory of heat." No image of the medal won by Joule is available. But, this design was used throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
On the Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
James Joule (1849)
James Joule (1849)
Joule's mention of Count Rumford and of Humphrey Davy's ice experiment
Description of equipment Joule used. The article reads like a classic lab report.
Sketch of equipment
Data table
Joule's heat apparatus
Discussed in the episode:
The concepts of work and energy
Example of the misuse of the term "energy" in a popular magazine (Yoga Journal, July/August, 2020). Notice how, in the second paragraph, that the author conflates the concept energy as used in yoga, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, with that used in modern physics. Using the term "energy" metaphorically can be insightful. However, using it to describe the "Gunas" in a physical way is simply inaccurate and misleading.
Other items of interest related to this podcast:
Headstone on the grave of James Joule