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Re: reifying energy

We can twist ourselves into complex knots trying to avoid reifying energy
and in the process confuse students even more than we now do. In
INTRODUCTORY physics courses, especially those that are the ONLY physics
course a student will take, reifying is NOT a bad way to go! We do buy
energy from the power company. We pay by the KILOWATT-HOUR. Sure you can
say its WORK as Jim wants, but then what's doing the work? Paul's vibrating
electrons? What's maintaining the vibrations?--more work?--done how, done
where? Yes we can trace it all, but how does all that make it easier for
students to follow?

Rick (Who is running out of my own reified energy grading final exams.)

**********************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
rtarara@saintmarys.edu

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www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Paul O. Johnson" <pjohnson@SCIENCEPLACE.ORG>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: reifying energy


I think we're paying for (1) the potential difference that the utility
company maintains across the wires at our meter (same price for everyone)
and (2) the number of electrons residing in our household wiring that
vibrate back and forth at 60 Hz (price depends on number of electrons made
to vibrate by the loads we switch on).

poj

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Smith" <larry.smith@SNOW.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 10:36 PM
Subject: reifying energy


Jim, Re: reifying energy,

What am I paying my utility company for? What do they give me in
exchange
for my money? I'm not buying electrons (which are real?). Am I buying
energy (which is not real?)? If energy is a property of objects can I
buy
the property without buying the object? Is this like a diaper service
where I'm buying not diapers but cleanliness?

Cheers,
Larry