Mechanical Equivalence of Heat

Abstract

You will see from the proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical Society at Manchester, that, since the discussion there, Dr. Joule has definitely abandoned the reasonings in his famous paper on the mechanical force of electro-magnetism, steam, and horses. I have now had time to test the facts and experiments of this new theory, and find it, as I hope soon to show in detail, as untenable as his former one. Indeed, I am sure that the mechanical equivalence of heat must soon be generally abandoned as inconsistent with facts. You will see that the April numberof the “Review of Popular Science,” has definitely pronounced a decision in my favour; and I am sure you will soon be convinced yourself that your own first reviewer of my article in the Quarterly Journal of Science was more reasonable than your second.