Re: heat is a form of energy

[Daniel Schroeder <DSCHROEDER@CC.WEBER.EDU>]

Hi Leigh,

In response to your latest...

> 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?

No, I have not conceded that energy is "insubstantial" (and I'm
not interested in reopening the argument).  In some ways (I maintain),
energy is more "substantial" than anything else we know.  But it isn't
a *separate* substance as a naive fluid model might seem to imply.
I certainly agree that caveats are appropriate.

dan