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Re: heat is a form of energy



Although Leigh will probably go to his grave fighting his holy war
against the practice, the fact remains that many teachers and learners
find it helpful to use the vivid language of flowing "substances" for
both energy and entropy. Do such models have limitations? Absolutely!
Should we therefore abandon them? Absolutely not!

It may shock some to learn that I do use this metaphor for energy
(though not for entropy) but I thoroughly clothe it in appropriate
caveats when I first introduce it. Dan, I take it from what you are
saying that you understand that energy is insubstantial. Is there a
good reason you should shield your students and readers from this
piece of arcane knowledge? Feynman hangs it right out front, a good
idea in my view. Why are so many so opposed to full disclosure?

Leigh