Re: [Phys-l] workable versus unworkable energy

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>
> As far as the work argument goes internal or thermal energy can be
> transferred without any perceptible working.
'Perceptible' is a key word here.  Care to explain?  Seems to me that the 
transfer of thermal energy does involve 'working' at the molecular 
level--one molecule does positive work on another (through electrical 
forces) while the 2nd molecule does negative work back on the first (or the 
reverse).

BTW--I do agree that the transfer model, even if it conjures ideas of fluids 
and flows, is probably the best way to start out students dealing with 
energy.  At the intro, and especially the general-education level, WORK(ING) 
is a very difficult topic for students.  Using it as a basis for 
understanding ENERGY will leave many (most) in a fog!

Rick***************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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