Re: ENERGY WITH Q

[Jim Green <JMGreen@SISNA.COM>]

> In many textbooks thermal energy, which is really
> mechanical energy of randomly agitated molecules
> and atoms, is referred to as internal energy. In my
> opinion this term is not desirable because "internal"
> could easily be misinterpreted as "all energy inside
> a system". This would be wrong, some energy inside a
> system can be nonthermal. Think about a system
> containing compressed springs and rotating wheels.

Well, Ludwik, there is motion "inside" a usual thermodynamic system which
should be distinguished from the motion which causes pressure.  Call it
what you like, but the physics of the linear motion is different from that
of the rotational and vibrational motion even in a very simple system.  The
possible presence of pulleys and wheels inside the system are ignored here.

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