The Oxford Handbook of the History of Physics (Oxford Handbooks)

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Physics brings together cutting-edge writing by more than twenty leading authorities on the history of physics from the seventeenth century to the present day. By presenting a wide diversity of studies in a single volume, it provides authoritative introductions to scholarly contributions that have tended to be dispersed in journals and books not easily accessible to the general reader. While the core thread remains the theories and experimental practices of physics, the Handbook contains chapters on other dimensions that have their place in any rounded history. These include the role of lecturing and textbooks in the communication of knowledge, the contribution of instrument-makers and instrument-making companies in providing for the needs of both research and lecture demonstrations, and the growing importance of the many interfaces between academic physics, industry, and the military. Contents 6 List of Contributors 9 Introduction 12 PART I . PHYSICS AND THE NEW SCIENCE 16 1 Was There A Scientific Revolution? 18 2 Galileo’s Mechanics Of Natural Motion And Projectiles 36 3 Cartesian Physics 67 4 Physics And The Instrument-makers, 107 5 Newton’s 120 6 Newton’s Optics 177 7 Experimentation In The Physical Sciences Of The Seventeenth Century 210 8 Mathematics And The New Sciences 237 PART I I . THE LONG EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 276 9 The Physics Of Imponderable Fluids 278 10 Physics On Show: Entertainment, Demonstration, And Research In The Long Eighteenth Century 310 11 Instruments And Instrument-makers, 337 12 Mechanics In The Eighteenth Century 369 13 Laplace And The Physics Of Short-range Forces1 417 14 Electricity And Magnetism To Volta 443 PART I I I . FASHIONING THE DISCIPLINE 454 15 Optics In The Nineteenth Century 456 16 Thermal Physics And Thermodynamics 484 17 Engineering Energy: Constructing A New Physics For Victorian Britain 519 18 Electromagnetism And Field Physics 544 19 Electrodynamics From Thomson And Maxwell To Hertz 582 20 From Workshop To Factory: The Evolution Of The Instrument-making Industry, 595 21 Physics Textbooks And Textbook Physics In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries 662 22 Physics And Medicine 690 23 Physics And Metrology 709 PART IV. MODERN PHYSICS 730 24 Rethinking ‘classical Physics’ 732 25 The Emergence Of Statistical Mechanics 776 26 Three And A Half Principles: The Origins Of Modern Relativity Theory 800 27 Quantum Physics 825 28 The Silicon Tide: Relations Between Things Epistemic And Things Of Function In The Semiconductor World 871 29 Physics And Cosmology 903 Name Index 934 Subject Index 947 This Book Brings Together Cutting-edge Writing By More Than Twenty Leading Authorities On The History Of Physics From The Seventeenth Century To The Present Day. By Presenting A Wide Diversity Of Studies In A Single Volume, It Provides Authoritative Introductions To Scholarly Contributions That Have Tended To Be Dispersed In Journals And Books Not Easily Accessible To The General Reader. While The Core Thread Remains The Theories And Experimental Practices Of Physics, The Handbook Contains Chapters On Other Dimensions That Have Their Place In Any Rounded History. These Include The Role Of Lecturing And Textbooks In The Communication Of Knowledge, The Contribution Of Instrument-makers And Instrument-making Companies In Providing For The Needs Of Both Research And Lecture Demonstrations, And The Growing Importance Of The Many Interfaces Between Academic Physics, Industry, And The Military. Pt. I. Physics And The New Science -- Pt. Ii. The Long Eighteenth Century -- Pt Iii. Fashioning The Discipline : From Natural Philosophy To Physics -- Pt. Iv. Modern Physics. Edited By Jed Z. Buchwald And Robert Fox. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. « This book brings together cutting-edge writing by more than twenty leading authorities on the history of physics from the seventeenth century to the present day. By presenting a wide diversity of studies in a single volume, it provides authoritative introductions to scholarly contributions that have tended to be dispersed in journals and books not easily accessible to the general reader. While the core thread remains the theories and experimental practices of physics, the Handbook contains chapters on other dimensions that have their place in any rounded history. These include the role of lecturing and textbooks in the communication of knowledge, the contribution of instrument-makers and instrument-making companies in providing for the needs of both research and lecture demonstrations, and the growing importance of the many interfaces between academic physics, industry, and the military. »-- Quatrième de couverture part. I. Physics and the new science part. II. The long eighteenth century part III. Fashioning the discipline : from natural philosophy to physics part IV. Modern physics.