Abstract
These instructions are intended to provide guidance to authors “It is important to realize that in physics today we have no knowledge of what energy is”, said the Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman in his Lectures. “Nobody knows what energy really is”, one reads in Bergmann and Schaefer’s Experimental Physics (1998). We cannot answer the question of what energy really is, explain Dransfeld et al. (2001). Although everybody has a feeling of what energy is, wrote Çengel and Boles (2002), it is difficult to give a precise definition for it. According to Halliday et al. (2003), it is very difficult to give a simple definition of energy. If we cannot explain in a clear way what energy is, the concept of energy must be a problem in science teaching.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Arons, A. B. (1999). Development of energy concepts in introductory physics courses. American Journal of Physics, 67, 1063-1067.
Barbosa, J. P., & Borges, A. T. (2006). O Entendimentos dos Estudantes sobre Energia no início do Ensino Médio. Caderno Brasileiro de Ensino de Física, 23, 182-217.
Berg, K. C. De (2008). The concepts of heat and temperature: The problem of determining the content for the construction of an historical case study which is sensitive to nature of science issues and teaching-learning issues. Science & Education, 17, 75-114.
Bergmann, L., & Schaefer, C. (1998). Lehrbuch der experimentalphysik I (11th ed.). Berlin, New York: De Gruyter.
Berthollet, C. L. (1809). Notes sur divers objects’. In Mémoires de Physique et de Chimie de la Société d’Arcueil. Tome sécond. Paris (Rep. New York: Johnson).
Bevilacqua, F. (1983). The principle of conservation of energy and the history of classical electromagnetic theory. Pavia: La Goliardica Pavese.
Beynon, J. (1990). Some myths surrounding energy. Physics Education, 25, 314-316.
Böge, A., & Eichler, J. (2002). Physik (9th ed.). Braunschweig, Wiesbaden: Vieweg.
Breger, H. (1982). Die Natur als arbeitende Maschine: zur Entstehung des Energiebegriffs in der Physik 1840-1850. Frankfurt a. M., New York: Campus Verlag.
Bueche, F. (1972). Principles of physics (2nd ed.). New York: Mc Graw Hill.
Caneva, K. L. (1993). Robert Mayer and the conservation of energy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Cardwell, D. S. L. (1989). James Joule. A biography. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Carnot, S. (1824). Réflexions sur la puissance motrice du feu. Paris: Bachelier. (Rep. Éditions J. Gabay, 1990)
Çengel, Y., & Boles, M. (2002). Thermodynamics. Boston: McGraw Hill. [etc.] Chalmers, B. (1963). Energy. London: New York.
Clausius, R. (1850). Ueber die bewegende kraft der wärme und die gesetze, welche sich daraus für die wärmelehre selbst ableiten lassen. Annalen der Physik, 79, 368-397; 500-524.
Coelho, R. L. (2007). On the concept of energy: How understanding its history can improve physics teaching. Science & Education (online). doi: 10.1007/s11191-007-9128-0.
Colladon, & Sturm. (1828). Ueber die zusammendrückbarkeit der flüssigkeiten. Annalen der Physik, 88, 161-197.
Cotignola, M. I., Bordogna, C., Punte, G., & Cappannini, O. M. (2002). Difficulties in learning thermo- dynamic concepts: Are they linked to the historical development of this field? Science & Education, 11, 279-291.
Cutnell, J., & Johnson, K. (1997). Physics. Canada: J. Wiley.
Dahl, P. F. (1963). Colding and the conservation of energy. Centaurus, 8, 174-188. Davy, H. (1799). Collected works (Vol. 2, J. Davy, Ed.). London, 1839.
Doménech, J. L., Gil-Pérez, D., Gras-Marti, A., Guisasola, J., Martínez-Torregrosa, J., Salinas, J., et al. (2007). Teaching of energy issues: A debate proposal for a global reorientation. Science & Education, 16, 43-64.
Dransfeld, K., Kienle, P., & Kalvius, G. M. (2001). Physik I: Mechanik und Wärme (9th ed.). München: Oldenbourg.
Duit, R. (1986). Der Energiebegriff im Physikunterricht. Kiel: IPN, Abt. Didaktik d. Physik.
Duit, R. (1987). Should energy be illustrated as something quasi-material? International Journal of Science Education, 9, 139-145.
Faraday, M. (1832). Experimental researches in electricity. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 125-162.
Feynman, R. (1966). The Feynman lectures on physics (2nd ed.). London.
Guedj, M. (2000). L’émergence du principe de conservation de l’énergie et la construction de la thermo- dynamique. PhD Dissertation, Paris.
Haldat. (1807). Recherches sur la chaleur produite par le frottement. Journal de Physique, de Chime et d’Histoire Naturelle, 65, 213-222.
Halliday, D, Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2003). Physik. (German Trans.). Weinheim: Wiley. Hertz, H. (1894). Die Prinzipien der Mechanik. Leipzig: J. A. Barth.
Joule, J. P. (1884, 1887). The scientific papers of James Prescott Joule (Vol. 2). London: The Physical Society. (Rep. Dawsons, London, 1963.)
Keller, F. J., Gettys, W. E., & Skove, M. J. (1993). Physics: classical and modern (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lodge, O. J. (1879). An attempt at a systematic classification of the various forms of energy. Philosophical Magazine, 8, 277-286.
Lodge, O. J. (1885). On the identity of energy: in connection with Mr Poynting’s paper on the transfer of energy in an electromagnetic field; and the two fundamental forms of energy. Philosophical Magazine, 19, 482-494.
Maxwell, J. (1873). Theory of heat (3rd ed.). Connecticut, CT: Greenwood.
Mayer, J. R. (1842). Bemerkungen über die Kräfte der unbelebten Natur. Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie, 42, 233-240. (In Mayer, 1978)
Mayer, J. R. (1978). Die Mechanik der Wärme: Sämtliche Schriften. In H. P. Münzenmayer & S. Heilbronn (Eds.). Heilbronn: Stadtarchiv Heilbronn.
Müller, & Pouillet (1926). Lehrbuch der Physik (Vol. 3-I, 11th ed.). Braunschweig.
Nicholls, G., & Ogborn, J., (1993). Dimensions of children’s conceptions of energy. International Journal of Science Education, 15, 73-81.
Nolting, W. (2002). Theoretische Physik (Vol. 4, 5th ed.). Wiesbaden: Vieweg. Ostwald, W. (1908). Die Energie (2nd ed.). Leipzig: J. A. Barth. 1912.
Planck, M. (1887). Das Prinzip der Erhaltung der Energie (4th ed.). (1921). Leipzig, Berlin: Teubner.
Poincaré, H. (1892). Cours de Physique Mathématique, 3. Thermodynamique: Leçons professés pendant le premier semestre 1888-89. Paris: J. Blondin.
Poynting, J. H. (1884). On the transfer of energy in the electromagnetic field. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 343-361.
Preston, T. (1919). The theory of heat (3rd ed., R. Cotter, Ed.). London: Macmillan.
Prideaux, N. (1995). Different approaches to the teaching of the energy concept. School Science Review, 77, 49-57.
Rankine, W. (1850). Abstract of a paper on the hypothesis of molecular vortices, and its application to the mechanical theory of heat. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, II, 275-288.
Rankine, W. (1853). On the general law of the transformation of energy. Philosophical Magazine, 34, 106-117.
Rowland, H. A. (1902). The Physical Papers of Henry Augustus Rowland. Baltimore, John Hopkins Press. Rowland, H. A.
Rumford, B. C. (1798). An inquiry concerning the source of the heat which is excited by friction. Philosophical Transactions, 80-102.
Schirra, N. (1989). Entwicklung des Energiebegriffs und seines Erhaltungskonzepts. PhD Dissertation, Giessen.
Smith, C. (1998). The science of energy: A cultural history of energy physics in Victorian Britain. London: The Athlone Press.
Thomson, W. (1851). On the dynamical theory of heat; with numerical results deduced from Mr Joule’s equivalent of a thermal unit, and M. Regnault’s observations on steam. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1853), 20, 261-298; 475-482.
Thomson, W. (1852). On a universal tendency in nature to the dissipation of mechanical energy. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 3, 139-142.
Thomson, W. (1854). On the mechanical antecedents of motion, heat, and light. In Thomson (Ed.), 1884, pp. 34-40.
Thomson, W., & Tait, P. (1862). Energy. Good Words, 3, 601-607.
Thomson, W. (1884). Mathematical and physical papers II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tipler, P. (2000/1994). Physik (German Trans.). Heidelberg: Spektrum Akad. Verl. [etc.]
Trumper, R. (1990). Being constructive: An alternative approach to the teaching of the energy concept - part one. International Journal of Science Education, 12, 343-354.
Trumper, R. (1991). Being constructive. An alternative approach to the teaching of the energy concept - part two. International Journal of Science Education, 13, 1-10.
Verdet, E. (1868). Oeuvres de E. Verdet. T. 7. Paris: Masson.
Watts, D. M. (1983). Some alternative views of energy. Physical Education, 18, 213-217.
Young, H., & Freedman, R. (2004). Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics (11th ed.). San Francisco: P. Addison-Wesley [etc.].
Ricardo Lopes Coelho
Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon
Campo Grande C4, P-1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal e-mail: rlc@fc.ul.pt
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Sense Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Coelho, R.L. (2011). On the Concept of Energy. In: Kokkotas, P.V., Malamitsa, K.S., Rizaki, A.A. (eds) Adapting Historical Knowledge Production to the Classroom. SensePublishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-349-5_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-349-5_6
Publisher Name: SensePublishers
Online ISBN: 978-94-6091-349-5
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)