English

Energy and Entropy

With the discovery, between 1845 and 1847, of the principle of conservation of energy, the importance of energy for human life and progress was recognized, and scientists gave energy the romantic name of `The Queen of the Worldâ. Some twenty years later scientists discovered entropy, a measure of the dissipation of energy. This book outlines the history of the formulation of these two notions. Ideas and concepts that were crystallizing in the human mind for thousands of years as the result of observation, practical experience, and developments in technology are described, together with philosophers, scientists, engineers, and inventors who contributed to their formulation. Contents Introduction THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD AND HER SHADOW 7 THE INVISIBLE QUEEN 15 The Man of Reason Showed in the Mirror of the Universe 15 From the Forces of Gods to the Forces of Souls in Every Object 20 Energy and 2000 Years of Walking About 28 “Give Me a Place to Stand and I Will Move the World!” 36 The Birth of the ‘Motive Power of Fire’ 41 In the Gloom of Religious and Political Cataclysms 44 Renaissance. Gravitational, Magnetic, and Electric Forces 50 Celestial and Terrestrial Forces 60 “Let Us Laugh, M

Sign in with your free account to read, download EPUBs or listen.