Entropy and the Experience of Heat |
| |
Authors: | Hans U Fuchs Michele DAnna Federico Corni |
| |
Institution: | 1.Center for Narrative in Science, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland;2.Faculty of Education, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39042 Bressanone, Italy;3.Liceo Cantonale Locarno, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland |
| |
Abstract: | We discuss how to construct a direct and experientially natural path to entropy as a extensive quantity of a macroscopic theory of thermal systems and processes. The scientific aspects of this approach are based upon continuum thermodynamics. We ask what the roots of an experientially natural approach might be—to this end we investigate and describe in some detail (a) how humans experience and conceptualize an extensive thermal quantity (i.e., an amount of heat), and (b) how this concept evolved during the early development of the science of thermal phenomena (beginning with the Experimenters of the Accademia del Cimento and ending with Sadi Carnot). We show that a direct approach to entropy, as the extensive quantity of models of thermal systems and processes, is possible and how it can be applied to the teaching of thermodynamics for various audiences. |
| |
Keywords: | entropy extensive quantity of heat phenomenology conceptualization early history of thermal physics teaching and learning of thermodynamics |
|
|