Re: CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

[LUDWIK KOWALSKI <kowalskil@alpha.montclair.edu>]

On 15 Jul 1997 22:05:23  brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net> wrote:

> It seemed to me that the frictional energy might be equally shared
> between the block and the substrate, in which case, the block would 
> have become warmer than the substrate unless they were in quite 
> intimate thermal contact.

The "thermal" energy will be distributed according to masses, after the
final state is established. 

I admire your language, Brian, but I would not agree that phys-L waters
are "shark-infested". Long before you started to contribute somebody
self-described us as "prima-balerinnas". This term, as you know, has
both positive and negative aspects. I think that people are nice and
want to promote understanding of physics. This would not be possible
without tolerance of individualities. And, as Jim Green wrote yesterday,
we are so different in terms of background. I think that this is good.
Those who know a lot should realize how limited others are. And those
whose background is limited feel good that they can always count on
friendly comments.

I hope more people will comment on your zero work answer. By the way,
David Bowman, I expect, will say that both work and heat are zero.
This time he will have to simulate a high school student and use the
appropriate terminology. He knows very well that h.s. students do not
know about "generalized work", "virtual displacements", etc. 

                                         Ludwik Kowalski

> I too am concerned by the heavy weather we make of this topic. It is 
> sad that the people who appear to have the most intimate background in 
> thermodynamics are also the most guarded.

> This is of course an indicator that the waters hereabout may well be 
> shark-infested. To stretch this metaphor yet further, I can imagine that 
> when the blood of the Copenhagen group puts a ruddy tinge on workable
> concepts like energy and work, it behoves physics professionals to 
> keep their limbs well inboard...