The Scientific Papers Of James Clerk Maxwell: Volume 1 (cambridge Library Collection - Physical Sciences)

The publication in 1890 of the two-volume Scientific Papers of James Clerk Maxwell, edited by W. D. Niven, was one of the two objects of a committee formed 'for the purpose of securing a fitting memorial of him' (the other object being the commissioning of a marble bust for the Cavendish Laboratory). Before his death in 1879 at the age of 48, Clerk Maxwell had made major contributions to many areas of theoretical physics and mathematics, not least his discoveries in the fields of electromagnetism and of the kinetic theory of gases, which have been regarded as laying the foundations of all modern physics. He is generally considered the third most important physicist of all time, after Newton and Einstein. These collected shorter works, beginning with a paper written at the age of 15, show the wide range of Clerk Maxwell's interests across mathematics, physics and chemistry. Frontmatter Dedication PREFACE Contents ERRATA On the Description of Oval Curves and those having a plurality of Foci with remarks by Professor For On the Theory of Rolling Curves On the Equilibrium of Eastic Solids On the Transformation of Surfaces by Bending On a particular case of the descent of a heavy body in a resisting medium On the Theory of Colours in relation to Colour-Blindness Experiments on Colour as perceived by the Eye with remarks on Colour-Blindness On Faradays Lines of Force Description of a New Form of the Platometer an Instrument for measuring the areas of Plane Figures d On the elementally Theory of Optical Instruments On a method of drawing the Theoretical Forms of Faradays Lines of Force without calculation On the unequal sensibility of the Foramen Centrale to Light of different Colours On the Theory of Compound Colours with reference to mixtures of Blue and Yellow Light On an instrument to illustrate Poinsoets Theory of Rotation On a Dynamical Top for exhibiting the phenomena of the motions of a body of invariable form about a Account of Experiments on the Perception of Colour On the general laws of Optical Instruments On Theories of the Constitution of Saturns Rings On the stability of the motion of Saturns Rings Illustrations of the Dynamical Theory of Gases On the Theory of Compound Colours and the Relations of the Colours of the Spectrum On the Theory of Three Primary Colours On Physical Lines of Force On Reciprocal Figures and Diagrams of Forces A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field On the Calculation of the Equilibrium and Stiffness of Frames INDEX TO VOL I Before his death in 1879 at the age of 48, Clerk Maxwell had made major contributions to many areas of theoretical physics and mathematics. He is generally considered the third most important physicist of all time, after Newton and Einstein. These collected papers show the wide range of his interests. The collected papers of the man generally considered the third most important physicist of all time, after Newton and Einstein.