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A BRIEF DEFINITION OF FORCE VIVE and SQUARING
Force Vive (F;mv2) is a scientific concept that was hotly debated in the 17th and 18th centuries. Proposed by Gottfried Leibniz over the period 1676-1689, the theory was controversial as it seemed to oppose the theory (F;mv) advocated by Sir Isaac Newton. In Leibniz's view, Newton's equation of was incorrect because it eventually becomes zero, meaning that the force stops and is "dead." Newton explained that God would add more energy to keep the universe going. Leibniz's squaring of velocity meant that force keeps going and doesn't need outside replenishment of energy (i.e. it was "alive"). During the French debates on the subject, Newton's equation became known as "Force Morte," (Dead Force) while Leibniz's equation was called "Force Vive" (Living Force). However, Leibniz's theory was not clearly explicated and lacked a detailed experimental proof, and Newton proved too powerful of an intellectual celebrity to overcome.
By advocating for Leibniz's squaring of Force, Emilie Du Chatelet translated Leibniz's idea in a way that was easily understood and added the decisive evidence on squaring of a Dutch researcher, William 'sGravesande. Today, due in part to Du Chatelet's work, we understand that the two equations are describing different things - Newton's equation describes the Conservation of Momentum (F;ma - Force equal Mass times Acceleration), while Leibniz's equation became what is understood as Kinetic Energy (E;mv2) - Energy equals Mass times Velocity squared).
Scholars see Du Chatelet's legacy as including her advocacy of squaring and her French translation of Newton's Principia. These and her other writings prompted scientists of the following centuries to regard energy as being proportional to mv2, and she can be traced to Einstein's development of E;mc2.Thank you to Dr. Judith Zinsser, whose mentorship and book, Emilie Du Chatelet: Daring Genius of the Enlightenment (Penguin, 2007), gave me so much of the world of this play. -- Lauren Gunderson
Directors Note:
MFA Thesis Note:
Cast
Creative Team
Eric Allgeier
Meet the Company
Andrea Haskett
Andrea is so grateful for such a wonderful team of support through this journey to stand up her thesis performance. This role has been a long time goal, and she is thrilled for all of you to see it.
Eric Allgeier
Eric is a Louisville native and freelance Scenic Designer. Eric has degrees from Western Kentucky University, Boston University and Spalding University. Eric was the Scenic Design faculty member at The Youth Performing Arts School for 13 years. Some theatres Eric has worked for include: San Francisco Opera, Opera East Texas, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Kentucky Opera, Wolftrap Opera, Boston Playwright's Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, The Louisville Ballet, Derby Dinner Playhouse and Pandora Productions. Eric has also worked as an Assistant Scenic Designer at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville and in New York City.
