Matter and Motion

by James Clerk Maxwell, Joseph Larmor Sir (Noted by)

Overview

This slim yet dense volume remains an excellent introduction to Newtonian physics, just as when it was first published in 1877. Beginning with the basics of physical science and working his way steadily up to universal gravitation, Maxwell surveys late-19th-century physics in his clear and concise style. Matter and Motion addresses: . motion . force . the properties of the center of mass of a material system . work and energy . recapitulation . the pendulum and gravity . the equations of motion of a connected system Readers from the science historian to the high school physics student will come away from Matter and Motion with a deeper understanding of the roots of modern physics. Scottish physicist and mathematician JAMES CLERK MAXWELL (1831-1879) is considered by many to be one of the giants of theoretical physics. Albert Einstein once described Maxwell's work as "the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton." A devoutly religious man and a published poet as well as a renowned scientist, Maxwell's books include Theory of Heat (1870), Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism (1873), and Elementary Treatise on Electricity (1881).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781602063082
Publisher:	Cosimo Classics
Publication date:	04/01/2007
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.42(d)

About the Author

James Clerk Maxwell: In His Own Words — And Others
Dover reprinted Maxwell's Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism in 1954, surely one of the first classics of scientific literature over a thousand pages in length to be given new life and accessibility to students and researchers as a result of the paperback revolution of the 1950s. Matter and Motion followed in 1991 and Theory of Heat in 2001.

Some towering figures in science have to speak for themselves. Such is James Clerk Maxwell (1813–1879), the Scottish physicist and mathematician who formulated the basic equations of classical electromagnetic theory.

In the Author's Own Words:
"We may find illustrations of the highest doctrines of science in games and gymnastics, in traveling by land and by water, in storms of the air and of the sea, and wherever there is matter in motion."

"The 2nd law of thermodynamics has the same degree of truth as the statement that if you throw a tumblerful of water into the sea, you cannot get the same tumblerful of water out again." — James Clerk Maxwell

Critical Acclaim for James Clerk Maxwell:
"From a long view of the history of mankind — seen from, say, ten thousand years from now — there can be little doubt that the most significant event of the 19th century will be judged as Maxwell's discovery of the laws of electrodynamics. The American Civil War will pale into provincial insignificance in comparison with this important scientific event of the same decade." — Richard P. Feynman

"Maxwell's equations have had a greater impact on human history than any ten presidents." — Carl Sagan

Table of Contents

Chapter I	Introduction
1	Nature of Physical Science	1
2	Definition of a Material System	2
3	Definition of Internal and External	2
4	Definition of Configuration	2
5	Diagrams	3
6	A Material Particle	3
7	Relative Position of two Material Particles	4
8	Vectors	4
9	System of Three Particles	5
10	Addition of Vectors	5
11	Subtraction of one Vector from another	6
12	Origin of Vectors	6
13	Relative Position of Two Systems	7
14	Three Data for the Comparison of Two Systems	7
15	On the Idea of Space	9
16	Error of Descartes	9
17	On the Idea of Time	11
18	Absolute Space	12
19	Statement of the General Maxim of Physical Science	13
Chapter II	On Motion
20	Definition of Displacement	15
21	Diagram of Displacement	15
22	Relative Displacement	16
23	Uniform Displacement	17
24	On Motion	18
25	On the Continuity of Motion	18
26	On Constant Velocity	19
27	On the Measurement of Velocity when Variable	19
28	Diagram of Velocities	20
29	Properties of the Diagram of Velocities	21
30	Meaning of the Phrase "At Rest"	22
31	On Change of Velocity	22
32	On Acceleration	23
33	On the Rate of Acceleration	24
34	Diagram of Accelerations	25
35	Acceleration a Relative Term	25
Chapter III	On Force
36	Kinematics and Kinetics	26
37	Mutual Action between Two Bodies--Stress	26
38	External Force	26
39	Different Aspects of the same Phenomenon	27
40	Newton's Laws of Motion	27
41	The First Law of Motion	28
42	On the Equilibrium of Forces	30
43	Definition of Equal Times	31
44	The Second Law of Motion	32
45	Definition of Equal Masses and of Equal Forces	32
46	Measurement of Mass	33
47	Numerical Measurement of Force	35
48	Simultaneous Action of Forces on a Body	36
49	On Impulse	37
50	Relation between Force and Mass	38
51	On Momentum	38
52	Statement of the Second Law of Motion in Terms of Impulse and Momentum	39
53	Addition of Forces	39
54	The Third Law of Motion	40
55	Action and Reaction are the Partial Aspects of a Stress	40
56	Attraction and Repulsion	41
57	The Third Law True of Action at a Distance	42
58	Newton's Proof not Experimental	42
Chapter IV	On the Properties of the Centre of Mass of a Material System
59	Definition of a Mass-Vector	44
60	Centre of Mass of Two Particles	44
61	Centre of Mass of a System	45
62	Momentum represented as the Rate of Change of a Mass-Vector	45
63	Effect of External Forces on the Motion of the Centre of Mass	46
64	The Motion of the Centre of Mass of a System is not affected by the Mutual Action of the Parts of the System	47
65	First and Second Laws of Motion	48
66	Method of treating Systems of Molecules	48
67	By the Introduction of the Idea of Mass we pass from Point-Vectors, Point Displacements, Velocities, Total Accelerations, and Rates of Acceleration, to Mass-Vectors, Mass Displacements, Momenta, Impulses, and Moving Forces	49
68	Definition of a Mass-Area	50
69	Angular Momentum	51
70	Moment of a Force about a Point	51
71	Conservation of Angular Momentum	52
Chapter V	On Work and Energy
72	Definitions	54
73	Principle of Conservation of Energy	54
74	General Statement of the Principle of the Conservation of Energy	55
75	Measurement of Work	56
76	Potential Energy	58
77	Kinetic Energy	58
78	Oblique Forces	60
79	Kinetic Energy of Two Particles referred to their Centre of Mass	61
80	Kinetic Energy of a Material System referred to its Centre of Mass	62
81	Available Kinetic Energy	63
82	Potential Energy	65
83	Elasticity	65
84	Action at a Distance	66
85	Theory of Potential Energy more complicated than that of Kinetic Energy	67
86	Application of the Method of Energy to the Calculation of Forces	68
87	Specification of the [Mode of Action] of Forces	69
88	Application to a System in Motion	70
89	Application of the Method of Energy to the Investigation of Real Bodies	70
90	Variables on which the Energy depends	71
91	Energy in Terms of the Variables	72
92	Theory of Heat	72
93	Heat a Form of Energy	73
94	Energy Measured as Heat	73
95	Scientific Work to be done	74
96	History of the Doctrine of Energy	75
97	On the Different Forms of Energy	76
Chapter VI	Recapitulation
98	Retrospect of Abstract Dynamics	79
99	Kinematics	79
100	Force	79
101	Stress	80
102	Relativity of Dynamical Knowledge	80
103	Relativity of Force	81
104	Rotation	83
105	Newton's Determination of the Absolute Velocity of Rotation	84
106	Foucault's Pendulum	86
107	Matter and Energy	89
108	Test of a Material Substance	89
109	Energy not capable of Identification	90
110	Absolute Value of the Energy of a Body unknown	90
111	Latent Energy	91
112	A Complete Discussion of Energy would include the whole of Physical Science	91
Chapter VII	The Pendulum and Gravity
113	On Uniform Motion in a Circle	92
114	Centrifugal Force	93
115	Periodic Time	93
116	On Simple Harmonic Vibrations	94
117	On the Force acting on the Vibrating Body	94
118	Isochronous Vibrations	95
119	Potential Energy of the Vibrating Body	96
120	The Simple Pendulum	96
121	A Rigid Pendulum	98
122	Inversion of the Pendulum	100
123	Illustration of Kater's Pendulum	100
124	Determination of the Intensity of Gravity	101
125	Method of Observation	102
126	Estimation of Error	103
Chapter VIII	Universal Gravitation
127	Newton's Method	105
128	Kepler's Laws	105
129	Angular Velocity	106
130	Motion about the Centre of Mass	106
131	The Orbit	107
132	The Hodograph	107
133	Kepler's Second Law	108
134	Force on a Planet	109
135	Interpretation of Kepler's Third Law	110
136	Law of Gravitation	111
137	Amended Form of Kepler's Third Law	112
138	Potential Energy due to Gravitation	113
139	Kinetic Energy of the System	113
140	Potential Energy of the System	114
141	The Moon is a Heavy Body	115
142	Cavendish's Experiment	116
143	The Torsion Balance	117
144	Method of the Experiment	118
145	Universal Gravitation	119
146	Cause of Gravitation	120
147	Application of Newton's Method of Investigation	121
148	Methods of Molecular Investigations	122
149	Importance of General and Elementary Properties	122
Chapter IX	On the Equations of Motion of a Connected System	123
Appendix I	The Relativity of the Forces of Nature	137
Appendix II	The Principle of Least Action	145
	Index	162

Editorial Reviews

Maxwell's lucid exposition of Newtonian mechanics. This is a reissue of the 1952 Dover edition which was a reprint of the SPCK edition of 1920. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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