Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-01-19

u 6He ulScuSSion OF any subject
pertaining to the generation of power
there is one fundamental principle
which must always be kept in mind,
and with which probably very few of
my readers are familiar. This funda-
mental principle is known as the
Conservation of Energy" Every
one is familiar with the meaning of
the word conservation, and also in a
general sense the meaning of the
word energy; the power to move, or
accomplish any result. The conser-
walton of energy means that the guam
tity Of energy in the universe is con-
stant and invariable, and that man
does not possess the power to either
destroy or create it. We do not at
tempt to explain why this is, but only
know that it is a fact, just as we know
that the force of gravity exists, or
that man cannot create or destroy
matter. Man can transfoxm energy
into its various forms suitable for
his requirements in industrial pur-
poses. Heat energy is one form,
which may be generated in the fire.
box of a steam boiler. Pressure or
potential energy is another form.
An example of this is steam under
pressure in a boiler, or water in a
reservoir at a definite elevation be-
low which elevation it may be ntiliz-
ed for generating power Still ano-
ther form is mechanical or kinetic
energy, an example of which is the
moving parts of a steam engine, and
also electrical energy which exists in
an electrical circuit having definite
pressure or electro-motive force. In
consuming coal in the fire-hox of a
steam boiler man is not creating
energy, as this heat energy previously
existed in a latent form In the coal.
Neither is he creating energy in de-
riving power from water under d.
finite head. 1t will be shown later
that this is one method of utilizing
the snn's heat energy.
Before we can arrive at any definite
conception of work and power a sys-
tenn of unit measurements must bt
defined and adopted for these terms
In engineering computations the uni
of measurement for work is generally
known as the foot-pound. A foot
pound Is that amount of work which
is accomplished in raising one pouno
of any substance to height of on,
foot. The total amount of work ac.
complished in any case is always th'
J force exerted in pounds multiplied b,
the distance in feet through which
the force acts. If man raises ;
weight of 50 pounds to height of fiv,
feet he has done $50 pounds of work
Or in going up a stairway betweel
, two floors having difference of ele
vation of l2 feet, he has accomplished
1900 foot-pounds of work If we assum
that the weight of his body is 10
pounds. If span of horses exert
4 uniform pull of 300 pounds on load
, ed wagon for distance of one mil
they have accomplished |, ,5S4, 900 foo
pounds of work. This conclusion
reached by multiplying the constar
9 force of 300 pounds by the distance {
: $3.50 feet. II a steam engine draws
: lcage weighing 1000 pounds, includin
it's load, out of a shaft 500 feet dec
this engine has done l,00O,oO0 foo
pounds of work. Evidently there
. nothing difficnlt to comprehend wit
reference to the meaning of the teri
: foot-pound.
IL Power is defined as the rate of d
" ing work In other words the pow
y exerted in doing any quantity of VOL
V depends upon the time In which ii
n work is done. If a man does 800 foe
A pounds Of work in one minute he e
pehds more power than he would
doing the same amount of work
two minutes, The mechanical u