Kitabı oku: «The Energy System of Matter: A Deduction from Terrestrial Energy Phenomena», sayfa 8

32. Complete Secondary Cyclical Operation

A general outline of the conditions of working and the relationships of secondary processes has already been given in the General Statement (§ 9), but it still remains to indicate, in a broad way, the general methods whereby these operations are linked to the atmospheric machine. In the example of the simple pendulum, it has been pointed out that the energy processes giving rise to heating at the bearing surfaces and transmission of energy to the air masses are not directly reversible processes, but really form part of a more extensive cyclical operation, in itself, however, complete and self-contained. This cyclical operation may be regarded as a typical illustration of the manner in which separate processes of energy transmission or transformation, such as already described, are combined or united in a continuous chain forming a complete whole.

It has been assumed, in all the experiments with the pendulum, that the operating energy is initially communicated from an outside source, say the hand of the observer. This energy is, therefore, the acting energy which must be traced through all its various phases from its origin to its final destination. At the outset, it may be pointed out that this energy, applied by hand, is obtained from the original rotational energy of the earth by certain definite energy processes. Due to the influences of various incepting fields which emanate from the sun (§§ 17-19), a portion of the earth's rotational energy is transformed into that form of plant energy which is stored in plant tissue, and which, by the physico-chemical processes of digestion, is in turn converted into heat and the various other forms of energy associated with the human frame. This, then, is the origin of the energy communicated to the pendulum. Its progress through that machine has already been described in detail (§§ 21-26). The transformation of energy of motion to energy of position which takes place is in itself a reversible process and may in the meantime be neglected. But the final result of the operations, at the bearing surfaces and in the air masses surrounding the moving pendulum, was shown to be, in each case, that heat energy was communicated to these air masses. The effect of the heat energy thus impressed, is to cause the expansion of the air and its elevation from the surface of the earth in the lines or field of the gravitative attraction, so that this heat energy is transformed, and resides in the air masses as energy of position. The energy then, originally drawn from the rotational energy of the earth, has thus worked through the pendulum machine, and is now stored in the air masses in this form of energy of position. To make the process complete and cyclical this energy must now, therefore, be returned once more to the earth in its original rotational form. This final step is carried out in the atmospheric machine (§ 41). In this machine, therefore, the energy of position possessed by the air masses is, in their descent to their original positions at lower levels, transformed once more into axial or rotational energy. In this fashion this series of secondary processes, involving both transformations and transmissions, is linked to the great atmospheric process. The amount of energy which operates through the particular chain of processes we have described is, of course, exceedingly small, but in this or a similar manner all secondary operations, great or small, are associated with the atmospheric machine. Instances could readily be multiplied, but a little reflection will show how almost every energy operation, no matter what may be its nature, whether physical, chemical, or electrical, leads inevitably to the communication of energy to the atmospheric air masses and to their consequent upraisal.

It is interesting to note the infallible tendency of energy to revert to its original form of axial energy, or energy of rotation, by means of the air machine. All Nature bears witness to this tendency, and although the path of energy through the maze of terrestrial transformation often appears tortuous and uncertain, its final destination is always sure. The secondary operations are thus interlinked into one great whole by their association in the terrestrial energy cycle. Many of these secondary operations are of short duration; others extend over long periods of time. Energy, in some cases, appears to slumber, as in the coal seams of the earth, until an appropriate stimulus is applied, when it enters into active operation once more. The cyclical operations are thus long or short according to the duration of their constituent secondary energy processes. But the balance of Nature is ever preserved. Axial energy, transformed by the working of one cyclical process, is being as continuously returned by the simultaneous operation of others.

PART III
TERRESTRIAL CONDITIONS

33. Gaseous Expansion

Before proceeding to the general description of the atmospheric machine (§ 10), it is desirable to consider one or two features of gaseous reaction which have a somewhat important bearing on its working. Let it be assumed that a mass of gaseous material is confined within the lower portion of a narrow tube ABCD (Fig. 8) assumed to be thermally non-conducting; the upper portion of the tube is in free communication with the atmosphere. The gas within the tube is assumed to be isolated from the atmosphere by a movable piston EF, free to move vertically in the tube, and for the purpose of illustration, assumed also frictionless and weightless. With these assumptions, the pressure on the confined gas will simply be that due to the atmosphere. If heat energy be now applied to the gas, its temperature will rise and expansion will ensue. This expansion will be carried out at constant atmospheric pressure; the gaseous material, as it expands, must lift with it the whole of the superimposed atmospheric column against the downward attractive force of the earth's gravitation on that column. Work is thus done by the expanding gas, and in consequence of this work done, a definite quantity of atmospheric material gains energy of position or potential energy relative to the earth's surface. At the same time, the rise of temperature of the gas will indicate an accession of heat energy to its mass. These familiar phenomena of expansion under constant pressure serve to illustrate the important fact that, when heat energy is applied to a gaseous mass, it really manifests itself therein in two aspects, namely, heat energy and work energy. The increment of heat energy is indicated by the increase in temperature, the increment of work energy by the increase in pressure. In the example just quoted, however, there is no increase in pressure, because the work energy, as rapidly as it is applied to the gas, is transformed or worked down in displacing the atmospheric column resting on the upper side of the moving piston. The energy applied, in the form of heat from the outside source, has in reality been introduced into a definite energy machine, a machine in this case adapted for the complete transformation of work energy into energy of position. As already indicated, when the expansive movement is completed, the volume and temperature of the gaseous mass are both increased but the pressure remains unaltered. While the increase in temperature is the measure and index of a definite increase in the heat energy of the gas, it is important to note that, so far as its work energy is concerned, the gas is finally in precisely the same condition as at the commencement of the operation. Work energy has been, by the working of this energy machine, as it were passed through the gaseous mass into the surrounding atmosphere. The pressure of the gas is the true index of its work energy properties. So long as the pressure remains unaltered, the inherent work energy of the material remains absolutely unaffected. A brief consideration of the nature of work energy as already portrayed (§ 31) will make this clear. Work energy has been defined as "that form of energy transmitted by matter in motion," and it is clear that pressure is the essential factor in any transmission of this nature. Temperature has no direct bearing on it whatever. It is common knowledge, however, that in the application of heat energy to a gaseous substance, the two aspects of pressure and temperature cannot be really dissociated. They are mutually dependent. Any increment of heat energy to the gas is accompanied by an increment of work energy, and vice versa. The precise mode of action of the work energy will, of course, depend on the general circumstances of the energy machine in which it operates. In the case just considered the work energy does not finally reside in the gaseous mass itself, but, by the working of the machine, is communicated to the atmosphere. If, on the other hand, heat energy were applied in the same fashion to a mass of gas in a completely enclosed vessel, that is to say at constant volume instead of at constant pressure, the general phenomena are merely altered in degree according to the change in the precise nature of the energy machine. In the former case, the nature of the energy machine was such that the work energy communicated was expended in its entirety against gravitation. Under what is usually termed constant volume conditions, only a portion of the total work energy communicated is transformed, and the transformation of this portion is carried out, not against gravitation, but against the cohesive forces of the material of the enclosing vessel which restrains the expansion. No matter how great may be the elastic properties of this material, it will be distorted, more or less, by the application of work energy. This distortional movement is the external evidence of the energy process of transformation. Energy is stored in the material against the forces of cohesion (§ 15). But the energy thus stored is only a small proportion of the total work energy which accrues to the gas in the heating process. The remainder is stored in the gas itself, and the evidence of such storage is found simply in the increase of pressure. Different energy machines thus offer different facilities for the transformation or the storage of the applied energy. In every case where the work energy applied has no opportunity of expending itself, its presence will be indicated by an increase in the pressure or work function of the gas.

Fig. 8

The principles which underlie the above phenomena can readily be applied to other cases of gaseous expansion. It is a matter of common experience that if a given mass of gaseous material be introduced into a vessel which has been exhausted by an air-pump or other device for the production of a vacuum, the whole space within the vessel is instantly permeated by the gas, which will expand until its volume is precisely that of the containing vessel. Further phenomena of the operation are that the expanding gas suffers a decrease in temperature and pressure corresponding to the degree or ratio of the expansion. Before the expansive process took place the gaseous mass, as indicated by its initial temperature and pressure, is endowed with a definite quantity of energy in the form of heat and work energy. After expansion, these quantities are diminished, as indicated by its final and lower temperature and pressure. The operation of expansion has thus involved an expenditure of energy. This expenditure takes place in virtue of the movement of the gaseous material (§ 4). It is obvious that if the volume of the whole is to be increased, each portion of the expanding gas requires to move relatively to the remainder. This movement is carried out in the lines of the earth's gravitative attraction, and to a certain extent over the surface of the containing vessel. In some respects, it thus corresponds simply to the movement of a body over the earth's surface (§ 16). It is also carried out against the viscous or frictional forces existing throughout the gaseous material itself (§ 29). Assuming no influx of energy from without, the energy expended in the movement of the gaseous material must be obtained at the expense of the inherent heat and work energy of the gas, and these two functions will decrease simultaneously. The heat and work energy of the gas or its inherent energy is thus taken to provide the energy necessary for the expansive movement. This energy, however, does not leave the gas, but still resides therein in a form akin to that of energy of position or separation. It will be clear also, that the reverse operation cannot, in this case, be carried out; the gas cannot move back to its original volume in the same fashion as it expanded into the vacuum, so that the energy utilised in this way for separation cannot be directly returned.

The expansion of the gas has been assumed above to take place into a vacuous space, but a little consideration will show that this condition cannot be properly or even approximately fulfilled under ordinary experimental conditions. The smallest quantity of gas introduced into the exhausted vessel will at once completely fill the vacuous space, and, on this account, the whole expansion of the gas does not in reality take place in vacuo at all. To study the action of the gas under the latter conditions, it is necessary to look on the operation of expansion in a more general way, which might be presented as follows.

34. Gravitational Equilibrium of Gases

Consider a planetary body, in general nature similar to the earth, but, unlike the earth, possessing no atmosphere whatever. The space surrounding such a celestial mass may then be considered as a perfect vacuum. Now let it be further assumed that in virtue of some change in the conditions, a portion of the material of the planetary mass is volatilised and a mass of gas thereby liberated over its surface. The gas is assumed to correspond in temperature to that portion of the planet's surface with which it is in contact. It is clear that, in the circumstances, the gas, in virtue of its elastic and energetic properties, will expand in all directions. It will completely envelop the planet, and it will also move radially outwards into space. In these respects, its expansion will correspond to that of a gas introduced into a vacuous space of unlimited extent.

The question now arises as to the nature of the action of the gaseous substance in these circumstances. It is clear that the radial or outward movement of the gas from the planetary surface is made directly against the gravitative attraction of the planet on the gaseous mass. In other words, matter or material is being moved in the lines or field of this gravitative force. This movement, accordingly, will be productive of an energy transformation (§ 4). In its initial or surface condition each portion of the gaseous mass is possessed of a perfectly definite amount of energy indicated by and dependent on that condition. As it moves upwards from the surface, it does work against gravity in the raising of its own mass. But as the mass is thus raised, it is gaining energy of position (§ 20), and as it has absolutely no communication with any external source of energy in its ascent, the energy of position thus gained can only be obtained at the expense of its initial inherent heat and work energy. The operation is, in fact, a simple transformation of this inherent energy into energy of position, a transformation in which gravity is the incepting agency. The external evidence of transformation will be a fall in temperature of the material. Since the action is exactly similar for all ascending particles, it is evident that as the altitude of the gaseous mass increases the temperature will correspondingly diminish. This diminution will proceed so long as the gaseous particles continue to ascend, and until an elevation is finally attained at which their inherent energy is entirely converted into energy of position. The expansion of the gas, and the associated transformation of energy, thus leads to the erection of a gaseous column in space, the temperature of which steadily diminishes from the base to the summit. At the latter elevation, the inherent energy of the gaseous particles which attain to it is completely transformed or worked out against gravity in the ascent; the energy possessed by the gas at this elevation is, therefore, entirely energy of position; the energy properties of heat and work have entirely vanished, and the temperature will, therefore, at this elevation, be absolute zero. It is important to note also that in the building of such a column or gaseous spherical envelope round the planet, the total energy of any gaseous particle of that column will remain unchanged throughout the process. No matter where the particle may be situated in the column, its total energy must always be expressed by its heat and work energy properties together with its energy of position. This sum is always a constant quantity. For if the particle descends from a higher to a lower altitude, its total energy is still unchanged, because a definite transformation of its energy of position takes place corresponding to its fall, and this transformed energy duly appears in its original form of heat and work energy in accordance with the decreased altitude of the particle. Since the temperature of the column remains unchanged at the base surface and only decreases in the ascent, it is clear that the entire heat and work energy of the originally liberated gaseous mass is not expended in the movement against gravity. Every gaseous particle—excepting those on the absolute outer surface of the gaseous envelope—has still the property of temperature. It is evident, therefore, that in the constitution of the column, only a portion of the total original heat and work energy of the gaseous substance is transformed into energy of position.

The space into which the gas expands has been referred to as unlimited in extent. But although in one sense it may be correctly described thus, yet in another, and perhaps in a truer sense, the space is very strictly limited. It is true there is no enclosing vessel or bounding surface, but nevertheless the expansion of the gas is restrained in two ways or limited by two factors. The position of the bounding surface of the spherical gaseous envelope depends, in the first place, on the original energy of the gas as deduced from its initial temperature and its other physical properties, and secondly on the value of the gravitative attraction exerted on the gas by the planetary body. Looking at the first factor, it is obvious that since the gaseous mass initially possesses only a limited amount of energy, and since only a certain portion of this energy is really available for the transformation, the whole process is thereby limited in extent. The complete transformation and disappearance of that available portion of the gaseous energy in the process of erection of the atmospheric column will correspond to a definite and limited increase of energy of position of gaseous material. Since the energy of position is thus restricted in its totality, and the mass of material for elevation is constant, the height of the column or the boundary of expansion of the gas is likewise rigidly defined. In this fashion, the energy properties of the gaseous material limit the expansive process.

Looking at the operation from another standpoint, it is clear that the maximum height of the spherical gaseous envelope must also be dependent on the resistance against which the upward movement of the gas is carried out, that is, on the value of the gravitative attraction. The expenditure of energy in the ascent varies directly as the opposing force; if this force be increased the ultimate height must decrease, and vice versa. Each particle might be regarded as moving in the ascent against the action of an invisible spring, stretching it so that with increase of altitude more and more of the energy of the particle is transformed or stored in the spring in the extension. When the particle descends to its original position, the operation is reversed; the spring is now contracting, and yielding up the stored energy to the particle in the contraction. The action of the spring would here be merely that of an apparatus for the storage and return of energy. In the case of the gaseous mass, we conceive the action of gravitation to be exactly analogous to that of a spring offering an approximately constant resistance to extension. (The value of gravity is assumed approximately constant, and independent of the particle's displacement.) The energy stored or transformed in the ascension against gravity is returned on the descent in a precisely similar fashion. The operation is a completely reversible one. The range of motion of the gaseous mass or the ultimate height of the gaseous column will thus depend on the value of the opposing attractive force controlling the motion or, in other words, on the value of gravity. This value is of course defined by the relative mass of the planet (§ 20).

It is evident that the spherical envelope which would thus enwrap the planetary mass possesses certain peculiar properties which are not associated with gaseous masses under ordinary experimental conditions. It by no means corresponds to any ordinary body of gaseous material, having a homogeneous constitution and a precise and determinate pressure and temperature throughout. On the contrary, its properties are somewhat complex. Throughout the gaseous envelope the physical condition of the substance is continually changing with change of altitude. The extremes are found at the inner and outer bounding surfaces. At any given level, the gaseous pressure is simply the result of the attractive action of gravitation on the mass of gaseous material above that level—or, more simply, to the weight of material above that level. There is, of course, a certain decrease in the value of the gravitative attraction with increase of altitude, but within the limits of atmospheric height obtained by ordinary gaseous substances (§ 36) this decrease may be neglected, and the weight of unit mass of the material assumed constant at different levels. Increase of atmospheric altitude is thus accompanied by decrease in atmospheric pressure. But decrease in pressure must be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in density of the gas, so that, if uniform temperature were for the time being assumed, it would be necessary at the higher levels to rise through a greater distance to experience the same decrease in pressure than at the lower levels. In fact, given uniform conditions of temperature, if different altitudes were taken in arithmetical progression the respective pressures and densities would diminish in geometrical progression. But we have seen that the energy conditions absolutely preclude the condition of uniformity of temperature, and accordingly, the decreasing pressure and density must be counteracted to some extent at least by the decreasing temperature. The conditions are somewhat complex; but the general effect of the decreasing temperature factor would seem to be by increasing the density to cause the available gaseous energy to be completely worked down at a somewhat lower level than otherwise, and thus to lessen to some degree the height of the gaseous envelope.

It is to be noted that a gaseous column or atmosphere of this nature would be in a state of complete equilibrium under the action of the gravitative attraction—provided there were no external disturbing influences. The peculiar feature of such a column is that the total energy of unit mass of its material, wherever that mass may be situated, is a constant quantity. In virtue of this property, the equilibrium of the column might be termed neutral or statical equilibrium. The gas may then be described as in the neutral or statical condition. This statical condition of equilibrium of a gas is of course a purely hypothetical one. It has been described in order to introduce certain ideas which are essential to the discussion of energy changes and reactions of gases in the lines of gravitational forces. These reactions will now be dealt with.