Synopses & Reviews
William Thomson, Baron Kelvin (1824-1907), was educated at Glasgow and Cambridge. While only in his twenties, he was awarded the University of Glasgow's chair in natural philosophy, which he was to hold for over fifty years. He is best known through the Kelvin, the unit of measurement of temperature named after him in consequence of his development of an absolute scale of temperature. These volumes, published between 1889 and 1894, collect together Kelvin's lectures for a wider audience. In a convivial but never condescending style, he outlines a range of scientific subjects to audiences of his fellow scientists. The range of topics covered reflects Kelvin's broad interests and his stature as one of the most eminent of Victorian scientists. Volume 1 covers topics on physics, Volume 2 (actually published last) geology, and Volume 3 the science of the oceans.
Synopsis
A collection of Kelvin's scientific lectures on basic topics in physics, geology and navigation.
Synopsis
William Thomson, Baron Kelvin (1824-1907), was one of the most important Victorian scientists. These volumes collect together Baron Kelvin's lectures for a wider audience. They include elementary topics in physics such as heat, electricity and gravity, geology, navigation and magnetism.
Table of Contents
Volume 1: Preface; 1. Capillary action; 2. Electrical units of measurement; 3. The sorting demon of Maxwell; 4. Elasticity viewed as possibly a mode of motion; 5. The size of atoms; 6. Steps towards a kinetic theory of matter; 7. The six gateways of knowledge; 8. The wave theory of light; 9. On the age of the sun's heat; 10. On the sun's heat; 11. Electrical measurement; Index. Volume 2: 12. Protection of vegetation from cold; 13. The 'doctrine of uniformity' in geology briefly refuted; 14. On geological time; 15. On geological dynamics; 16. Presidential address to the British Association, Edinburgh, 1871; 17. Presidential address to the Society of Telegraph Engineers, 1874; 18. Review of evidence regarding the physical condition of the earth; 19. Geological climate; 20. The internal condition of the earth as to temperature, fluidity, and rigidity; 21. Polar ice-caps and their influence in changing sea levels; 22. On the rate of a clock or chronometer as influenced by the mode of suspension; 23. On a new astronomical clock; 24. On beats of imperfect harmonies; 25. On the origin and transformation of motive power; 26. On the sources of energy in nature available to man for the production of mechanical effect; 27. On the dissipation of energy; 28. The Bangor laboratories; 29. Presidential addresses; 30. Address delivered on the occasion of the unveiling of Joule's statue in Manchester Town Hall; 31. Isoperimetrical problems; Index. Volume 3: Preface; 32. Navigation; 33. The tides; 34. Terrestrial magnetism and the mariner's compass; 35. On deep-sea sounding by pianoforte wire; 36. On lighthouse characteristics; 37. On the forces concerned in the laying and lifting of deep-sea cables; 38. On ship waves; Index.