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Scientists throughout History : Kinetic Energy and Émilie du Châtelet

Scientists throughout History : Kinetic Energy and Émilie du Châtelet. Rebecca Wenning. Part I. Historical background. Sir Isaac Newton. 1642-1727 Discourse on vis viva (today known as energy) Newton believed: E  mv Dutch scientist performed experiments with metal cylinders and lard:

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Scientists throughout History : Kinetic Energy and Émilie du Châtelet

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  1. Scientists throughout History:Kinetic Energy and Émilie du Châtelet Rebecca Wenning

  2. Part I • Historical background

  3. Sir Isaac Newton • 1642-1727 • Discourse on vis viva (today known as energy) • Newton believed: • E  mv • Dutch scientist performed experiments with metal cylinders and lard: • E  v2 • Who was correct?

  4. Émilie du Châtelet • 1706-1749: Only recently recognized by French National Library on her 300th birthday

  5. Émilie du Châtelet • Fortunately for her, Émilie’s husband, 15 years older, disinterested in science and always away soldiering, allowed Émilie her “boyish” ways with books and studying.

  6. In the Meanwhile… • “In the year 1733 I met a young lady who happened to think nearly as I did.” • “Everything about her is noble, her countenance, her tastes…her politeness.”

  7. François Marie Arouet • “Voltaire” • 1694-1778 • Interested in science • Studied Isaac Newton • Familiar with visa viva

  8. Cirey • From 1734 until Émilie’s death in 1734, she and Voltaire lived together as friends (with the approval of her husband). Worked hard Partied hard

  9. Exile • Voltaire angered French government with his political writings • Fled to Holland from political persecution • Saw work of Dutch scientist

  10. The Experiment • Following Voltaire’s trip to Holland, Voltaire explains to Émilie the energy experiment he saw. • She is already busy: • Mathematical, philosophical, and religious papers • Paper on nature of fire (would have won competition had she not been a woman) • Paper on color (discovered infrared radiation) • First translation of Newton’s Principia

  11. Dutch Experiment • Kinetic energy seems to have something to do with m and v. • Newton: KE mv • Dutch: …but KE v2 WHO IS RIGHT?

  12. Part II • Experimentation

  13. Dutch Experiment KE (# drops) KE (# drops) Velocity Mass

  14. Close of an Epoch • Émilie performs the experiment and determines that E=mv2, not E=mv. • At 42, she becomes pregnant, but becomes ill with an infection and died before giving birth. • “I have lost…half of myself, a soul for which my soul seems to have been made.” ~Voltaire

  15. Improvements • Sir Thomas Young performed the same experiment as that of the Dutch scientist and Émilie. • Changed vis viva to be called “energy” • Determined final form of the equation: KE=(1/2)mv2

  16. Issues to Consider I • Who got credit for KE equation? Who should have gotten it? • In which instances of life was Émilie oppressed as a woman scientist? • Who were the people and what were the contexts under which she was oppressed?

  17. Issues to Consider II • Beyond “fairness” issues, what are the negative consequences of oppression of any minority group in science? • Have you ever felt oppressed in science? When? Why?

  18. Issues to Consider III • According to S & E statistics, is there still likely oppression of women? • What are some of the institutions and contexts under which women are oppressed? • Are there any other minority groups in S & E that are oppressed?

  19. Issues to Consider IV • What are the solutions to oppression of minorities (females, in particular) in S & E? • Are solutions actually needed? Maybe fewer women want S & E careers -- should there be 50-50 percentage rates?

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