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[Phys-L] Joule-Thompson myth

How did it come about?

JP Joule probably never visited the US and certainly not Niagara during his honeymoon. It was Chamonix.

The evidence is Thompson was an embellisher.

So, why has the Niagara story persisted and the thermometer?

Two myths: Niagara, for which I’ve been unable to track down, and the thermometer; perhaps Argumentum ad Verecundiam?


Cette une belle histoire:

Niagara Falls - Hmolpedia

Wait … perhaps his invitation to Playfair was assumed to have succeeded.


An argument against the myth:


James Joule: A Biography - Donald S. L. Cardwell - Google Books


https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWLQAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=chamonix+france+joule&source=bl&ots=UF9Trb48Ea&sig=097Q_KCQF7Wy8_jECFa5D-JA_sY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WL1cVY_IF4KfoQSQy4HwAw&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=chamonix%20france%20joule&f=false


bc appeals to authority: Obituary: Professor Donald Cardwell - Obituaries - News - The Independent


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-professor-donald-cardwell-1157385.html