Black Quote by Joseph Black
“What I have related is sufficient for establishing the main principle, namely, that the heat which disappears in the conversion of water into vapour, is not lost, but is retained in vapour, and indicated by its expansive form, although it does not affect the thermometer. This heat emerges again from this vapour when it becomes water, and recovers its former quality of affecting the thermometer; in short, it appears again as the cause of heat and expansion.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Experiments on Heat, 1761
Heat is conserved during water's phase change; it disappears as vapor but reappears when vapor condenses back to water, affecting temperature again.
In simple terms: Heat is not lost, it changes form during vaporization and condensation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize energy conservation in phase changes.
Themes
physics
thermodynamics
energy
conservation
phase change
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- industrial steam engines
- climate modeling
- refrigeration
- meteorology
Key Concepts
latent heat
energy transformation
thermodynamic cycles
Questions to Reflect On
- How does latent heat impact weather patterns?
- What engineering uses exploit this principle?
A Different Perspective
Assumes ideal conditions; real systems may have losses.
![“The impersonal aspect [of God] (Nirakara, Nirguna) is called Brahman, or 'unknowable' by Herbert Spencer, 'will' by Schopenhauer, Absolute Noumenon by some 'substance' by Spinoza. The personal aspect (Sakara) of that Being is termed 'Ishvara' or Allah, Hari, Jehova, Father in Heaven, Buddha, Siva…” quote by Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1cf/sivananda-7251_absolutes_the-impersonal-aspect-of-god-nirakara-ni_611295.jpg)
