russ_watters said:An example: If pushing an object against friction requires 4.2J, it will generate 1 cal of heat. Thermodynamics is basically the study of converting energy between heat and mechanical.
The particular value is just a conversion factor, but the fact that you can "convert" mechanical energy to thermal energy at all is extremely significant. This led the way to the modern concept of energy conservation and the idea that while it takes various forms, all "energy" is equivalent. Joule performed a classic experiment in 1843 to demonstrate the equivalence of "heat" energy and mechanical work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_equivalent_of_heat"miss photon said:that doesn't answer my question, is there any physical significance of mechanical equivalent of heat?
is mech equiv of heat simply a conversion factor or does it have any other physical significance?
The mechanical equivalent of heat is a physical constant that relates the amount of work done to the amount of heat produced. It states that 1 calorie of heat is equivalent to 4.186 joules of work.
The mechanical equivalent of heat was discovered by James Prescott Joule in the 19th century through his famous paddle-wheel experiment.
The mechanical equivalent of heat is important because it provides a connection between two different forms of energy - heat and mechanical work. This relationship is crucial in understanding the principles of thermodynamics and the conversion of energy from one form to another.
The mechanical equivalent of heat is calculated by measuring the amount of work done (in joules) and the amount of heat produced (in calories) in a given system. The ratio of these two values gives the value of the mechanical equivalent of heat.
The mechanical equivalent of heat is still used in modern science to understand and quantify the relationship between heat and work. It is also used in various fields such as thermodynamics, engineering, and physics to calculate energy conversions and efficiency of systems.