The New Physics and Its Evolution

Revolutionary change in modern Physics only apparent: evolution not revolution the rule in Physical Theory-- Revival of metaphysical speculation and influence of Descartes: all...

§ 5. The Measure of Temperature: Fundamental and derived units--Ordinary unit of temperature purely arbitrary--Absolute unit mass of H at pressure of 1 m. of Hg at 0° C.--Diverg...

§ 2. The Principle of the Conservation of Energy: Its evolution: Bernoulli, Lavoisier and Laplace, Young, Rumford, Davy, Sadi Carnot, and Robert Mayer--Mayer's drawbacks--Error...

§ 1. The Statics of Fluids: Researches of Andrews, Cailletet, and others on liquid and gaseous states-- Amagat's experiments--Van der Waals' equation--Discovery of corresponding...

§ 4. Electrolytic Dissociation: Van t'Hoff's and Arrhenius' researches--Ionic hypothesis of--Fierce opposition to at first--Arrhenius' ideas now triumphant --Advantages of Arrhe...

§ 4. Electrical Oscillations: Hertz's experiments-- Blondlot proves electromagnetic disturbance propagated with speed of light--Discovery of ether waves intermediate between Her...

§ 3. Use of earth as return wire by Steinheil --Morse's experiments with water of canal--Seine used as return wire during siege of Paris--Johnson and Melhuish's Indian experimen...

§ 1. The Conductivity of Gases: Relations of matter to ether cardinal problem--Conductivity of gases at first misapprehended--Erman's forgotten researches--Giese first notices p...

§ 1. The Cathode Rays: History of discovery--Crookes' theory--Lenard rays--Perrin's proof of negative charge--Cathode rays give rise to X-rays--The canal rays--Villard's researc...

§ 1. The Relations between the Ether and Matter: Attempts to reduce all matter to forms of ether--Emission and absorption phenomena show reciprocal action-- Laws of radiation--R...

The now numerous public which tries with some success to keep abreast of the movement in science, from seeing its mental habits every day upset, and from occasionally witnessing...

Not so very long ago, the scholar was often content with qualitative observations. Many phenomena were studied without much trouble being taken to obtain actual measurements. Bu...

Facts conscientiously observed lead by induction to the enunciation of a certain number of laws or general hypotheses which are the principles already referred to. These princip...

The division of bodies into gaseous, liquid, and solid, and the distinction established for the same substance between the three states, retain a great importance for the applic...

Vaporization and fusion are not the only means by which the physical state of a body may be changed without modifying its chemical constitution. From the most remote periods sol...

It is in the works of Descartes that we find the first idea of attributing those physical phenomena which the properties of matter fail to explain to some subtle matter which is...

I have endeavoured in this book to set forth impartially the ideas dominant at this moment in the domain of physics, and to make known the facts essential to them. I have had to...

If we were confined to the facts I have set forth above, we might conclude that two classes of phenomena are to-day being interpreted with increasing correctness in spite of the...

A wire traversed by an electric current is, as has just been explained, the seat of a movement of electrons. If we cut this wire, a flood of electrons, like a current of water w...

For some time past it has been the more or less avowed ambition of physicists to construct with the particles of ether all possible forms of corporeal existence; but our knowled...

It would doubtless be exceedingly rash, and certainly very presumptuous, to seek to predict the future which may be reserved for physics. The rôle of prophet is not a scientific...