Re: Thermal Energy

[Jim Green <JMGreen@SISNA.COM>]

At 20:12 04 03 2002 , you wrote:
> I would say that the statement is true. The thermal energy as described is
> internal and does not change because of the motion of the object. A balloon
> does not get larger when it is traveling down a highway at the speed limit.
> Why do you ask?

Umm. I don't think so , Cliff. Tim says that he defines "thermal energy" as
 "the total energy of the particles in a material -
both kinetic energy (vibrations and movement within and
between particles) and potential energy (determined by
forces that act within and between particles "

But, if the golf ball is being translated at some finite velocity through
the air, the "total energy of the particles in the material"  -- according
to _his_ definition -- would incorporate the translational kinetic energy
of the particles.  Thus the level of the property of his thermal energy of
the golf ball would be higher in flight.   The internal energy of the golf
ball would not.

Jim Green
mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen