Which scientist first challenged the caloric theory through experiments? a)Antoine Lavoisier b)Nicholas Sadi Carnot c)Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) d)Robert Mayer
Physics · Middle School · Wed Jan 13 2021
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Answer: c) Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) first challenged the caloric theory through experiments. In the late 18th century, Rumford conducted experiments on the boring of cannons and observed that the process of boring a cannon could produce a seemingly endless supply of heat, which contradicted the caloric theory that suggested heat was a fluid-like substance called 'caloric' that was conserved. He proposed that heat was a form of motion, which laid the groundwork for the kinetic theory of heat.