Re: Thermo of Springs/Sidebar

[brian whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

At 11:47 11/25/99 -0700, Jim Green wrote:
> ///my question is whether there is _any_ example of a macroscopic
> reversible process other than the ideal piston in a cylinder.
>
> Isn't it odd that the entire basis for classical thermodynamics (or,
> better, thermostatics) is that cylinder.

> Jim Green

This is another way of asking if there is an 100% efficient machine.
 A question that came up a few weeks ago. Steel on ice or ptfe
and ball bearing races come to mind, then fluid and air bearings.

But the celestial spheres seemed almost dissipationless - at least
on human timescales. A gas tight piston in a smooth cylinder would
come last, I suppose, on any rational list!




brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK