Re: heat is a form of energy

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>]

> 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