James Joule Biography: The Beer Brewer Who Changed The World

Joule created the equation for the heat from a current carrying wire, found the mechanical equivalent of heat and had the units of energy named after him. Here is his story.

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Some References:

Reynolds, O Memoir of James Prescott Joule (1892) p. 25-6
Cardwell, D James Joule (1989) p. 30
Sturgeon, W “Prospectus” The Annals of Electricity, vol. 1 (1836) p. ii
Sturgeon, W “Description of an Electro-magnetic Engine” The Annals of Electricity, vol. 1 (October, 1836) p. 78
Joule, J “Description of an electro-magnetic engine“ (Jan, 1838) Annals of Electricity, vol. 2 p. 122
Joule, J “Investigations in Magnetism and Electro-magnetism” (May 1839) Annals of Electricity, vol. 4 p. 131, 135
Joule, J “On the Heat Evolved by Metallic Conductors of Electricity” (Aug 1841) The Scientific Papers of James Prescott Joule Vol. 1 (1884) p. 61, 65
Joule, J “On the Calorific Effects of Magneto-Electricity” (Aug 1843) The Scientific Papers of James Prescott Joule Vol. 1 (1884) p. 157
William Thomson to J.T. Bottomley in 1882 found in Reynolds, O Memoir of James Prescott Joule (1892) p. 108
Thomson, W “On an Absolute Thermometric Scale…” (June 5, 1848) Proceedings – Cambridge Philosophical Society vol. 1 & 2 p. 68
Clausius, R “On the Moving Force of Heat..” (Translated in English July, 1851) The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine Vol. 2 (1851) p. 2 & 4
Clausius, R “First Memoir” (1850) The Mechanical Theory of Heat (1867) p. 17
“Report of the Committee” Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (1867) p. 474
Siemens, C Report of the Fifty-Second Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)

[HugoSoto-sdtx]

amazed how much knoledge and talent to comunicate we can find nowadays
millions thanks!!

[jlmassir]

The times of Joule and Maxwell were fascinating. It is difficult to picture such a primitive state of physics before the understanding that heat was a form of energy. How could Carnot, who developed a theory of heat machines, not realize that heat was a form of energy? It seems absurd today, but history reveals how those concepts could be established only after precise quantitative observations be possible. Your videos always make me think how things that we take for granted and consider trivial today, such as measuring an electric current, required in fact a great deal of ingenuity. Your channel is a must for anyone who wants to break free from myths and simplified views in the history of science.

[victorcroasdale]

Great video as ever. A couple of points.
1 William Thomson was knighted in 1866 for his work on the trans-Atlantic telegraph, he then became Sir William Thomson. He was made a lord, 1st Baron Kelvin in 1892. Being knighted makes one a 'Sir' not a 'Lord'. Although Thomson was Professor at Glasgow University for most of his life, he was born in Belfast, Ireland.
2 The picture of Joule's apparatus is of the model he used to demonstrate the principle. He did his experiments in the brewery on a much larger scale. His motivation was to mechanize his brewery with electric motors. The demonstration unit is in the possession of the Manchester Science Museum. The Science Museum in London has a replica.
BTW, I've seen Joule's actual display model and I've eaten a meal in the Joule House!

[alexmarshall]

Kathy...your channel is not suitable for bingefesting...I've done 5 this morning and I'm now going to watch them all again... So much information, keep it up, really enjoying your videos 👉🇬🇧👈👉💎👈

[Thursdaym]

I am originally from the same part of the country and am presently reading a book concerning some of the social history thereabouts. Just today was reading an article on Mr Joule which brought back memories of physics lessons at grammar school a lifetime ago. Apparently his family suffered financial problems when the brewery failed and they had to move to a less salubrious Manchester area. He like many of his Victorian contemporaries were of a breed we may never see again.

[jbflores]

Absolutely, captivating video! As ALWAYS! I truly love your insight into the minds of these scientists! A sign of a good documentarian is their ability to admit they made a mistake in their interpretations or conclusions. You're one of them! You're a great storyteller, very well researched and documented! The best science miniseries on youtube! Can't wait for the next episode...

[douro]

The amount of energy required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit is what we call the British Thermal Unit.

[blowzo]

Just stumbled across this. Someone who makes a mistake in a public forum and corrects herself in the same forum is a rare and wonderful thing in today's world and deserves my subscription. Well done, Madame!

[michellefor]

Here after Dave from EEVBlog gave your channel a shoutout😀

[markdaniel]

I truly appreciate how you manage to put 30 minutes worth of information in a 10 minute video.

[Swesh]

Thank you so much! This was super helpful when writing my essay about Joules and his discoverys.

[alastairchestnutt]

Another great talk. Thanks. Looking forwards to the next talk about three phase.

[VECORlt]

I know all of this so well, and apply it daily, but boy, listening to you explain it and put some historical veneer and excitement on it makes it so much interesting!
Keep those videos coming!

[fuzzylon]

Goosebumps time.
I studied electronic communication at Salford University just across the road from where Joule lived and worked.
I don't know if I knew and then forgot or I just assumed the building was named after him not realising it really was his house.
This is alongside all the feelings your videos stir up, reminding me how fascinating I found all this, but then never got to use what I learnt during my career.

[TalpaDK]

Amassing how many of the celebrities like Ohm, Maxwell and Joules were contemporaries / knew each other / have there stories intertwined. Anyway great content!

[garyfriedrick]

I am delighted to have found this lovely lady's collection. Kathy, I also love Physics and History, and Music. Your Intellect, Enthusiasm and Voice are Music to my ears. Thank you so much for your gifts to us all!

[dewiz]

If nothing else (and there is a LOT of “else”) these videos demonstrate the importance of scientific publications!

[chuckotto]

It is so incredibly wonderful how you make science interesting and exciting. Many of us know this, but haven't found a way to display it as you do, in your truly gifted way!

[walterbordett]

Great video. The life stories add a lot to the big picture.

Many years ago in Grad School, I took a differential equations class. One of the texts used had short biographies of the mathematicians whose discoveries we were studying. I found it very humbling to learn of their life stories and problems and I think it was somehow motivating.


It is interesting to note that many major scientific and engineering accomplishments have been made by people with little or no academic background. Franklin, Joule, Faraday, Wright Brothers to name a few.

[paulfrindle]

Fascinating video lecture - of how these guys, using makeshift equipment out of stuff one might find in a kitchen, basically hit on a fundamental law of physics, which is arguably the most influential law of all time! Thanks so much for these lectures - I love them :-)