Re: CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

[Jim Green <JMGreen@sisna.com>]

At 05:57 AM 7/29/97 -0400, Gene wrote:
> I would like to get a few things straightened out concerning internal
> energy--like what is it.

I am thinking that this question is too narrow -- It is a good question of
course for spending time on phys-l ranting about words, but, to have a
meaningful discussion, first you should say what the system is and what
formalism you are going to use the concept in and for what purpose.  

If you are going to use the First Law, you will also want to ask what "Q"
and "W" are.  And then if you want to include any more than "random" motion,
you will need a good reason to do so. It can be done (and Leigh will want
to), but the *usefulness* for doing so escapes me.  

IE there is not much point in specifying "internal energy" in some
intergalactic formal sense for all time and space unless the rest of the
problem is illuminated.   




Jim Green
JMGreen@sisna.com