The motion of common rolling bodies is a source of helpful hints towards understanding the properties of rigid bodies in general. In introductory courses dissipative phenomena are usually ignored, both at the highschool and at the university level. In this paper we analyse the role of friction on rolling and we show that the interplay between mechanics and thermodynamics facilitates understanding the behaviour of such systems. […]
The construction and working of a simple Stirling motor are reported and its thermodynamic behaviour and yield are analysed. This kind of heat engine is remarkably simple and attractive, owing to its unique property of extracting work from heat sources with differential temperatures as low as 20°C. […]