JOULE, J. P. (JAMES PRESCOTT), ROBERT MAYER - THE CONTROVERSY OVER "THE MECHANICAL EQUIVALENT OF HEAT"

Expériences sur l'identité entre le calorique et la force mécanique. Détermination de l'équivalent par la chaleur dégagée pendant la friction du mercure. (Joule) (+) Sur la transformation de la force vive en chaleur, et réciproquement. (Extrait d'une Lettre de M. Mayer).

Paris, Bachelier, 1847 a. 1848. 4to. No wrappers. In: "Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences", Tome 25, No 8 and Tome 27, No 16. Pp. (286-) 324 a. pp. (373-) 400. (Entire issues offered). Joule's paper: pp. 309-311. Mayer's paper: pp. 385-387.

First apperance of the paper in which Joule presented his last and most exact measurement of "THE MECHANICAL EQUIVALENT OF HEAT" by using his famous experimental design, the Paddle-wheel experiment, the most direct demonstration of the heat-mechanical-work equivalence. - He reported his final determinations of the equivalent to the French Academy of Sciences, and presented this learned body with the iron paddle-wheel calorimeter he had used in the case of mercury, thus establishing that heat is a form of energy.

Mayer, in his paper, claimed that he was the first to evaluate the mechanical equivalent, and thus claiming priority to the importent conservation law, the first law of thermodynamics and the conservation of energy.

Parkinson "Breakthroughs" 1847 P.

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