6.4.P2

A biologist, a physicist, and a chemist walked into a bar. After a few beers, their conversation turned to how they each taught energy in their classes. The biologist said, "I talk about work and motion -- getting stuff to move including kinetic and potential energy -- and chemical energy, and thermal energy."  The chemist said, "Why bother talking about chemical energy? It's just basically the potential energy of the electrons in molecules." The physicist said, "Why bother talking about thermal energy? It's just basically the kinetic energy of the motion of molecules." What do you think? Is there a value to talking about thermal energy and chemical energy as distinct from kinetic and potential energy? Explain why you think so.

(Note: The positions taken by the biologist, the chemist, and the physicist are NOT meant to be characteristic of the professions but are, in fact, individualist views heard by the author from actual scientists.)

Joe Redish 11/23/11