Mathematical and Physical Papers

A six-volume collection of the scientific papers of Lord Kelvin (1824–1907), one of Britain's most eminent mathematical physicists.

William Thomson (Author), Joseph Larmor (Edited by)

9781108029025, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 June 2011

624 pages, 54 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.5 cm, 0.78 kg

William Thomson, first Baron Kelvin (1824–1907), is best known for devising the Kelvin scale of absolute temperature and for his work on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, though throughout his 53-year career as a mathematical physicist and engineer at the University of Glasgow he investigated a wide range of scientific questions in areas ranging from geology to transatlantic telegraph cables. The extent of his work is revealed in the six volumes of his Mathematical and Physical Papers, published from 1882 until 1911, consisting of articles that appeared in scientific periodicals from 1841 onwards. Volume 5, published in 1911, includes articles from the period 1847–1908. Topics covered include thermodynamic and electrodynamic research, as well as some works on issues of geological physics such as the possible age of the sun's heat.

Part I
96. On the origin and transformations of motive power
97. On the discovery of the true form of Carnot's function
98. Discussion of J. P. Joule's paper on 'A Surface Condenser'
99. Remarks on the interior melting of ice
100. On the stratification of vesicular ice by pressure
101. On the thermal effect of drawing out a film of liquid
102. On the importance of making observations on thermal radiation during the coming eclipse of the sun
103. On the convective equilibrium of temperature in the atmosphere
104. On the protection of vegetation from destructive cold every night
105. On the dynamical theory of heat [thermal dissipation of energy of vibration of solids]
106. On the dissipation of energy
107 Dr. Balfour Stewart's meteorological blockade
108. On the ultramundane corpuscles of Le Sage
109. On steam-pressure thermometers of sulphurous acid, water, and mercury
110. On a sulphurous acid crysophorus
111. On a realised sulphurous acid steam-pressure thermometer, and on a sulphurous acid steam-pressure differential thermometer
also a note on steam-pressure thermometers
112. On a differential thermoscope founded on change of viscosity of water with change of temperature
113. On a thermomagnetic thermoscope
114. On a constant pressure gas thermometer
115. On the elimination of air from water
116. On a method of determining the critical temperature for any liquid and its vapour without mechanism
117. On the sources of energy in nature available to man for the production of mechanical effect
118. Accélération thermodynamique du mouvement de rotation de la terre
119. On the efficiency of clothing for maintaining temperature
120. On osmotic pressure against an ideal semi-permeable membrane
121. On a differential method for measuring differences of vapour pressures of liquids at one temperature and at different temperatures
122. Animal thermostat
123. The power required for the thermodynamic heating of buildings
Cosmical and Geological Physics
part of the universe
159. On Homer Lane's problem of a spherical gaseous nebula
160. On the formation of concrete matter from atomic origins
161. The problem of a spherical gaseous nebula
Molecular and Crystalline Theory.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]