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

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

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Figure 14.5 The smoking brakes on this truck are a visible evidence 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, ever memorable for his investigations on the mechanical equivalent of heat, gave much attention about 1838-1840 to the construction of electromagnets and succeeded in devising some forms remarkable for their lifting power.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

The number 778 is commonly called the heat equivalent of work or the mechanical equivalent of heat.

From Steam Engines Machinery's Reference Series, Number 70 by Anonymous