GENERAL

  ToC

PROCESSES AND ENERGY

Forces    Power    Energy Transfer    Energy Storage    Energy balance

The energy principle is a theme of general importance. We shall take a natural scientific perspective rather than an economic or social one. In the physical sciences, energy is a concept that appears equally in all phenomena. The most direct access to the energy principle may be provided by our understanding of the gestalt of forces of nature—in addition to extensive and intensive aspects, a force of nature such as fluids, electricity, or heat, has power. The energy principle is extended by notions of transfer and storage.

Forces of nature and their aspects. The waterfall as the archetype of a physical process. Sadi Carnot's imagery and the power of a process: tension and flow—energy made available or used. Energy transfer: energy currents and energy carriers. Energy storage and storage elements. The conservation of energy and the law of balance of energy for closed and open systems. And more…