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Caloric theory - Theory

Caloric theory - Theory: Encyclopedia II - Caloric theory - Theory

The theory held that changes in temperature are due to the transfer of an imponderable fluid, invisible and weightless, called caloric. The theory originally hinged on two key assumptions: That heat was a 'self-repulsive' (or 'elastic', or 'expansive') substance, while it was attracted to ordinary matter; and That temperature was the density of caloric^{See also:Caloric theory, Caloric theory - History, Caloric theory - Theory, Caloric theory - Successes, Caloric theory - Demise, Caloric theory - Significance in the philosophy of science, Caloric theory - Notes}

Caloric theory, Caloric theory - Demise, Caloric theory - History, Caloric theory - Notes, Caloric theory - Significance in the philosophy of science, Caloric theory - Successes, Caloric theory - Theory

Caloric theory: Encyclopedia II - Caloric theory - Theory

Caloric theory - Theory

The theory held that changes in temperature are due to the transfer of an imponderable fluid, invisible and weightless, called caloric.

The theory originally hinged on two key assumptions:

That heat was a 'self-repulsive' (or 'elastic', or 'expansive') substance, while it was attracted to ordinary matter; and
That temperature was the density of caloric^[1]

Later calorists were also generally committed to the claim that since heat was a material substance, it could neither be created nor destroyed; i.e., that heat was conserved^[2].