JF Ptak Science Books  Quick Post 

(With thanks to David Wenner for the introduction to this paper by Joule.)

There is a real work of unexpected beauty in the last paragraph in “On Shooting Stars” Philosophical Magazine vol 32, 1848, pp 349-351, by James Prescott Joule,  thanking the creator of the universe for including an atmosphere for the Earth.

At the end of the day, the first law of thermodynamics is found in the law of the conservation of energy, which was found in the relationship of the nature of heat to mechanical work, which was found in the work of James Prescott Joule (“Wherever mechanical force is expended, an exact equivalent of heat is always obtained”.— J.P. Joule, 1818-1889, August, 1843.) The unit of energy called the “joule” (”used by the International Standard of Units (SI)…defined as the amount of work done on a body by a one Newton force that moves the body over a distance of one meter”–Universe Today/Astronomy ) is named for J.P. Joule.

After addressing some issues of “shooting stars”, Joule writes his lovely closing sentiments, which to me can be easily arranged into a bit of “Found Poetry”–that is, it is the simple restructuring of the two paragraphs into a poetic format, and without changing any of the words. It is an interesting process, and I think Joule’s language easily transcends its sleepy place at the end of a mostly-forgotten work half-way through a scientific journal.

Here it is: 

I.

I cannot but be filled with admiration and gratitude

for the  wonderful provision thus made

by the Author of nature

for  the protection of his creatures.

 

II.

Were it not for the atmosphere which covers us with a shield,

impenetrable in proportion to the violence

which it is called upon to resist, we should 

be continually exposed to a bombardment of the most fatal 

and irresistible character [of shooting stars].

To say nothing of the larger stones, 

no ordinary buildings could afford shelter from very small  particles

striking at the velocity

of eighteen miles per second. 

 

III.

Even dust flying

at such a velocity

would kill any animal exposed to it.      

 

This is the original bit of the poetry straightened-out, proper, and correct:

And the rest of the article: