THE DISSIPATION OF ENERGY 



loss of solar energy has occurred. The rate of loss 

 may be too low and historic time too short for the 

 fact to be determined. In reference to this, J. Clerk 

 Maxwell remarks : " The idea of dissipation of 

 energy depends upon the extent of our knowledge. 

 Available energy is energy which we can direct into 

 any desired channel. Dissipated energy is energy 

 which we cannot lay hold of and direct at pleasure, 

 such as the energy of the confused agitation of mole- 

 cules which we call heat (of low intensity). The 

 notion of dissipated energy could not occur to a 

 being who could not turn any of the energies of 

 nature to account, or to one who could trace the 

 motion of every molecule and seize it at the right 

 moment. It is only to a being in the intermediate 

 stage, who can lay hold of some forms of energy 

 while others elude his grasp, that energy appears to 

 be passing inevitably from the available to the dissi- 

 pated state." * According to the one view here pre- 

 sented, the atomic motion of the Ether is the beginning 

 of all the birthplace of energy. According to the 

 other view, that of a solid Ether, it is its end and 

 graveyard : Entropy ! Which is it ? 



* J. Clerk Maxwell. Ency. Brit. 9th Edit. Vol. 7. 

 201 



