130. In both these cases, too, that portion of the energy which goes
into the air takes ultimately the shape of heat. The oscillating
pendulum communicates a motion to the air, and this motion ultimately
heats the air. The vibrating bell, or musical instrument, in like
manner communicates part of its energy to the air. This communicated
energy first of all moves through the air with the well-known velocity
of sound, but during its progress it, too, no doubt becomes partly
converted into heat. Ultimately, it is transmitted by the air to other
bodies, and by means of their internal viscosity is sooner or later
converted into heat. Thus we see that heat is the form of energy, into
which all visible terrestrial motion, whether it be rectilinear, or
oscillatory, or vibratory, is ultimately changed.
131. In the case of a body in visible rectilinear motion on the earth’s
surface, this change takes place very soon--if the motion be rotatory,
such as that of a heavy revolving top, it may, perhaps, continue longer
before it is ultimately stopped, by means of the surrounding air, and
by friction of the pivot; if it be oscillatory, as in the pendulum, or
vibratory, as in a musical instrument, we have seen that the air and
internal friction are at work, in one shape or another, to carry it
off, and will ultimately succeed in converting it into heat.
132. But, it may be said, why consider a body moving on the earth’s
surface? why not consider the motion of the earth itself? Will this
also ultimately take the shape of heat?
No doubt it is more difficult to trace the conversion in such a case,
inasmuch as it is not proceeding at a sensible rate before our eyes. In
other words, the very conditions that make the earth habitable, and a
fit abode for intelligent beings like ourselves, are those which unfit
us to perceive this conversion of energy in the case of the earth. Yet
we are not without indications that it is actually taking place. For
the purpose of exhibiting these, we may divide the earth’s motion into
two--a motion of rotation, and one of revolution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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