Re: Thermal Energy - thermalization of rotational energy

[Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>]

> . . .
> Prior to my revelation about rotational energy I wasn't bothered very
much
> by people who equated internal energy with thermal energy.  Now I am
> bothered a great deal by it. . . .
>  Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D

I think those who equate thermal and internal energy are restricting the
discussion to a system all of whose parts are in thermal equilibrium, at a
common temperature.  Then the statement becomes a tautology:  "Once all of
the internal energy is thermalized them we can equate thermal and internal
energy."  (This is part of the semantic mire :)

Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
trebor@velocity.net
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor