mechanical equivalent of heat

American  

noun

1. (in any system of physical units) the number of units of work or energy equal to one unit of heat, as 4.1858 joules, which equals one small calorie.

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mechanical equivalent of heat British  

noun

1.  J.  physics a factor for converting units of energy into heat units. It has the value 4.1868 joules per calorie

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Etymology

Origin of mechanical equivalent of heat

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mechanical equivalent of heat

Figure 14.5 The smoking brakes on this truck are a visible evidence of the mechanical equivalent of heat.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Note that Example 14.2 is an illustration of the mechanical equivalent of heat.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

The figure above shows one of Joule’s most famous experimental setups for demonstrating the mechanical equivalent of heat.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Joule worked out the mechanical equivalent of heat by means of his now famous experiment of churning water.

From Q. E. D., or New Light on the Doctrine of Creation by George McCready Price

One of the first who took in hand the determination of the mechanical equivalent of heat was Marc.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various