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:– E v2

• Who was correct?

Émilie du Châtelet

• 1706-1749: Only recently recognized by French National Library on her 300th birthday

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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.

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.”

François Marie Arouet

• “Voltaire”

• 1694-1778

• Interested in science

• Studied Isaac Newton– Familiar with visa viva

Cirey• From 1734 until Émilie’s death in 1734, she

and Voltaire lived together as friends (with the approval of her husband).

Worked hardPartied hardWorked hardPartied hard

Exile

• Voltaire angered French government with his political writings

• Fled to Holland from

political persecution– Saw work of Dutch scientist

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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

Dutch Experiment

• Kinetic energy seems to have something to do with m and v.

• Newton: KE mv• Dutch: …but KE v2

WHO IS RIGHT?

Part II

• Experimentation

Dutch Experiment

KE(# drops)

KE(# drops)

Mass Velocity

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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?