As he spoke, he noticed Lavoisier leaning forward, his eyes fixed on him. Napoleon felt a thrill of satisfaction. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He continued speaking, outlining their research, making compelling and thought-provoking arguments, and presenting his findings eloquently and fluidly. The audience listened intently, nodding in agreement while the others were impressed at his skills.
In this thesis, he proved that heat is a form of energy, not a substance, and stated the two laws of thermodynamics that are known in the modern world. The first one is the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. The second law states that in any energy transfer or transformation, the amount of useful energy decreases, and the amount of entropy, or disorder, increases. And finally, debunking Caloric Theory.
After presenting his thesis, Napoleon scanned the room, looking for any signs of disapproval or disagreement. But to his relief, he saw that everyone was nodding in agreement and seemed to be genuinely impressed by his research. Even Lavoisier, who he knew was a tough critic, was looking at him with a small smile on his face. But it was all for a show when he decided to ask a question.
"Mr. Buonaparte, I'm intrigued by your presentation. The way you delivered it was quite impressive. However, I have five questions. If you answer them, then I would willingly throw out my theory for you."
"I accept the challenge, Mr. Lavoisier," Napoleon said.
"Very well, I'll lay it all out now. How can heat be a form of energy rather than a substance when it behaves similarly to a substance in terms of its physical properties? If heat is not a substance, then what exactly is being transferred between two bodies during a heat transfer process? How can your theory explain the phenomenon of latent heat, which was a cornerstone of the Caloric Theory? If heat is just a form of energy, then how do you account for the differences in the heat capacity of different substances? The Caloric Theory was successful in explaining many phenomena related to heat, so why should we abandon it in favor of a new theory that has not been tested as thoroughly?"
Napoleon cleared his throat, preparing for his answer, and began.
"Heat is not a substance because it cannot be isolated as a physical entity. Heat is the energy transferred between two bodies due to a temperature difference. This transfer of energy occurs due to the motion of particles within the bodies, which is why it may behave similarly to a substance in terms of its physical properties. As for your second question, the transfer of heat occurs due to a temperature difference between two bodies, and this transfer occurs through various mechanisms such as conduction, convection, and radiation. Energy is transferred from the hotter body to the cooler body, but no physical substance is exchanged between the bodies.
For the third one, my theory can explain the phenomenon of latent heat by considering the changes in the internal energy of a substance during a phase change. During a phase change, such as melting or vaporization, the energy added or removed is used to change the arrangement of the particles within the substance rather than changing the temperature. As for the fourth, the heat capacity of a substance is related to the amount of energy required to change its temperature. Different substances have different heat capacities because the particles within the substances have different masses, and they interact differently with each other. Heat capacity is related to the internal energy of the substance and the degree of freedom of the particles.
"Lastly, while the Caloric Theory was successful in explaining some phenomena related to heat, it was unable to account for the conservation of energy or the relationship between heat and work. This new understanding of thermodynamics, based on the laws of conservation of energy and the second law of thermodynamics that I came up with, has been rigorously tested and is supported by the experiment that I conducted. Therefore, it provides a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of heat and its relation to other forms of energy."
Lavoisier listened intently to Napoleon's answers, his expression was thoughtful. After Napoleon finished speaking, Lavoisier nodded slowly.
"I see," he said. "You make some valid points. Your theory does seem to have some merit."
"Thank you, Mr. Lavoisier," Napoleon said with a smile. "I appreciate your questions and your willingness to consider my theory."
Lavoisier nodded, his expression serious. "Your theory has given me much to think about," he said. "I will need to do more research and experimentation to determine its validity. But I must admit, you have presented a compelling argument. This is why it confused me. Are you even thirteen years old? Such a prodigious and precocious child."
Napoleon chuckled. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
"Oh, before I forgot, I invented a device known as a calorimeter, which measures the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction," Lavoisier said. "How would you debunk this device, using your theory?"
Napoleon thought for a moment before responding. "The calorimeter measures the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction, which is an important measurement for studying chemical reactions. However, it assumes that the heat released or absorbed during a reaction is due to the exchange of a physical substance called 'caloric' rather than the transfer of energy. This assumption is incorrect and not supported by my theory. Instead, the energy released or absorbed during a chemical reaction is due to the change in the internal energy of the substances involved. Therefore, while the calorimeter may accurately measure the heat released or absorbed during a reaction, its underlying assumption is flawed."
Having rebutted again, Antoine couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Napoleon looked at Lavoisier quizzically, wondering what was so funny.
"I apologize, Napoleon," Lavoisier said, still chuckling. "It's just that I find it amusing that a young boy such as yourself has come up with a theory that challenges the ideas of some of the greatest minds in science."
Napoleon smiled. "Well, I believe that science is about constantly questioning and refining our understanding of the world. And who knows, maybe someday someone will come up with a theory that challenges mine."
Lavoisier nodded in agreement. "Indeed, science is a never-ending journey of discovery. And with young minds like yours, the future of science is in good hands. Everyone, give this man a round of applause."
The room erupted into applause as Napoleon grinned, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment.