Conservation and Innovation : Helmholtz's Struggle with Energy ...

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different competing theories showed an agreement with some versions of PCE, mainly with the impossibility of perpetuum mobile. That is, they admitted a potential. Thus, strictly speaking, there was no longer any heuristic power in the PCE (still a global one in Helmholtz’s view). Either a more specific version of PCE or a more specific regulative principle was needed. The more specific version of PCE was to be connected with the localisation of energy of Poynting, but Helmholtz seems not to have understood its relevance, the more specific principle was in Helmholtz’s view PLA. Moreover the PLA version had to be in agreement with contiguous action: in fact a PLA related with Maxwell’s theory was Helmholtz’s starting point in 1886. At this stage the two shifts had been accomplished before Hertz’s experiments. In 1894 Helmholtz publishes a small volume entitled "Introduction to the Lectures on Theoretical Physics". The first two sections, Introduction and Part I, are closely related to the themes discussed fourty years before in the Erhaltung and with them we will be concerned here. The third section, Part II, is very similar to the paper "An Epistemological Analysis of Counting and Measurement". Introduction and Part I are of great relevance to focus some aspects of Helmholtz's methodological beliefs. Namely the conditions of possibility of understanding nature, the relations betwen force and law, the role of regulative principles in framing our scientific knowledge. What had been achieved: a turn of the century viewpoint Energy theory changed the shape of physics : after 1847 physical laws no longer had only to face the challenge of experimental results, but also had to be judged on more theoretical grounds, in their relation with the conservation principle. But in turn the principle had, from the beginning, different formulations. The growth of these formulations was joined with the growth of alternative research programs in the second half of the century. The energetist movement took off, with its attempts to overthrow the mechanical worldview,
while the electromagnetic and the statistical approach, both deeply connected with energy problems, were actively pursued. Since energy conservation became one of the basic chapters of physics, the champions of the different research programs dedicated a great deal of logical and historical analysis to an understanding and framing of the various contributions and developments. Helmholtz was a leader in this spread of theoretical physics in the second half of the century, and is interesting to find out what was the judgement of his fellow scientists on his approach to PCE. I have already dealt with the first debate on the history and role of the energy pioneers, but besides Tyndall (1863) and Tait (1868 and 1876), from the seventies a number of books appeared on the history and foundations of energy theory which, while demonstrating the now recognized importance of the subject, gave interesting assessments of Helmholtz's contributions. Among them 409: Maxwell (1870 and 1877), B.Steward (1874), Stallo (1882), Lodge (1929), and in Germany : Mach (1872, 1883 and 1896), Planck(1887), Helm (1887 and 1898), Ostwald (1903 (tr fr.1912) and 1908), Haas (1909), and in France : Duhem (1895,1905), Poincarè (1892 and 1902). Rowland (1882) analysis of the experimental determinations of the mechanical equivalent of heat is also interesting. Philosophers too at the beginning of the century took a great interest in evaluating the role of Helmholtz's formulation of energy conservation, among these : Meyerson (1907) and Cassirer (1910). Important among the historians is the contribution of Mertz (1965 rep), that anticipates some modern historiographical claims. I will confine myself here at discussing some remarks on Helmholtz's energy theory and on his specific methods made by Planck, Helm and Poincarè. Planck outlines a basic problem in the formulation and application of the principle of conservation of energy, in whichever form : it is impossible to find the primary expression of the energy 410; the substantialization of energy is open to a certain degree of arbitrariness 411; there is a difficult theory/ experiment interplay 412. These general remarks are valid for all the expressions of the principle. What are the merits and demerits of Helmholtz's specific formulation? 409 See n.7. 410 Planck Prinzip p.114. 411 Planck Prinzip p.104. 412 Planck Prinzip Pp.45-47 e 235-40.
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Fabio Bevilacqua Conservation and I
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different formulations 4 and priori
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and interesting results, despite th
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principle of correlation is express
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principle to the existing empirical
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the origin and meaning of the princ
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Whether physiological research, apa
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In a discussion on the origins of a
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his "Wärme" that one of the differ
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generate a determined equivalent of
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"Bericht", despite the application
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experiments in the most disparate b
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The premise reveals that the struct
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intelligible if it can be referred
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elevant consequence of the deductio
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Needless to say the plan was to be
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and from here that the direction an
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since Leonardo 113; the "ad nihilum
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But unfortunately for the whole str
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The principle of conservation of vi
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different from the one joining the
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"The equality that exists between e
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In virtue of its limitations to New
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Helmholtz, while asserting that lig
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the temperature of 1 Kg of water ca
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In his search for a mechanical equi
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had already been achieved in the Be
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approach is discussed at length and
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and unaware of Green's results190,
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potential function 201. It is worth
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and judged unreliable, despite prov
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The relevance of the first question
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Page 67 and 68: Finally we get to the real conclusi
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Page 111 and 112: efuted. But again in 1881 Helmholtz
Page 113 and 114: But was important here is that desp
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Page 119 and 120: can modify its specific theoric for
Page 121 and 122: considered relevant. In Poincarè
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Page 125 and 126: interpretations at the beginning of
Page 127 and 128: while fighting metaphisicians, he w
Page 129 and 130: literature 456. There is an intrins
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Page 133 and 134: Kant was a Naturphilosophe 480. The
Page 135 and 136: condition that work done by the for
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Page 139 and 140: ) the experimental determinations o
Page 141 and 142: force principle 522. Elkana tried t
Page 143 and 144: Blüh, Otto. "The Value of Inspirat
Page 145 and 146: Graetz, L. "Das Mechanische Wärme
Page 147 and 148: Helmholtz, Hermann. "Bericht über
Page 149 and 150: Helmholtz, Hermann. Wissenschaftlic
Page 151 and 152: Madison: Wisconsin U.P., 1959. Pp.
Page 153 and 154: Poincarè, Henry. Electricité et O
Page 155: Yagi, Eri."Clausius's Mathematical
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