Some of the Troubles of John O'Toole respecting Potential Energy

Abstract

“IT is the people's right to demand of their teachers that the information piven them shall be, at least, definite and accurate as far as it goes,” and “whenever there appears to be a confusion about fundamental principles it is the duty of a scientific man to endeavour by all means in his power to remove it.” These are the words of one of the teachers.¹ I am one of the people—as indeed, my name testifies, Toole (Tuathal) being the Irish equivalent of the Latin Publius—and I would now, on behalf of myself and every brother Publius, assert our above “right” in respect of the matter now in hand, and demand the performance by the doctors of their corresponding “duty.” Now there is much “confusion about the fundamental principles” of physical Energy in the minds of the public who care about such things; and it is principally, though I admit not entirely,² the doctors who are to blame for this. Their own ideas on the subject being so clear and correct they are superior to the phraseology they use respecting it and they are not injuriously affected thereby; but those who are dependent on that phraseology for their knowledge are in very different case. Let me, as one of the latter, point out some of the perplexities under which we labour from no fault of our own, and which we should be spared if our teachers would only condescend to use their words discreetly and consistently. It may be well to premise that we know the definition of physical Energy, which is—“the power or capacity of performing work;” and that we are not now making any confusion between Energy and force.