James Clerk Maxwell and Modern PhysicsGlazebrook, Richard
History
James Clerk Maxwell and Modern Physics
Glazebrook, Richard
Maxwell, James Clerk, 1831-1879; Physics -- History
[39] The Chancellor continued to take to the end of his life a warm
interest in the work at the laboratory. In 1887, the Jubilee year, as
Proctor--at the same time I held the office of Demonstrator--it was
my duty to accompany the Chancellor and other officers to Windsor to
present an address from the University to Her Majesty. I was introduced
to the Chancellor at Paddington, and he at once began to question me
closely about the progress of the laboratory, the number of students,
and the work being done there, showing himself fully acquainted with
recent progress.
[40] In 1894 the list contained, in Part II., sixteen names, and in
Part I., one hundred and three names.
[41] Under the new regulations Physics was removed from the first part
of the Tripos and formed, with the more advanced parts of Astronomy
and Pure Mathematics, a part by itself, to which only the Wranglers
were admitted. Thus the number of men encouraged to read Physics was
very limited. This pernicious system was altered in the regulations
at present in force, which came into action in 1892. Part I. of the
Mathematical Tripos now contains Heat, Elementary Hydrodynamics
and Sound, and the simpler parts of Electricity and Magnetism, and
candidates for this examination do come to the laboratory, though not
in very large numbers. The more advanced parts both of Mathematics and
Physics are included in Part II.
[42] “Life of J. C. Maxwell,” p. 383.
[43] “Statique Expérimentale et Théorique des Liquides soumis aux
seules Forces Moléculaires.” Par J. Plateau, Professeur à l’Université
de Gaud.
[44] The “Red Lions” are a club formed by Members of the British
Association to meet for relaxation after the graver labours of the day.
[45] “Leonum arida nutrix.”--_Horace._
[46] _v.r._, endless.
[47] “Life of J. C. Maxwell,” p. 394.
[48] “Life of J. C. Maxwell,” p. 404.
[49] In his “Hydrodynamics,” published in 1738, Daniel Bernouilli
had discussed the constitution of a gas, and had proved from general
considerations that the pressure, if it arose from the impact of a
number of moving particles, must be proportional to the square of their
velocity. (_See_ “Pogg. Ann.,” Bd. 107, 1859, p. 490.)
[50] The proof is as follows:--
If σ be the specific heat at constant volume, σ′ at constant pressure,
and consider a unit of mass of gas at pressure p and volume v, let the
volume increase by an amount dv, while the temperature dy.
Thus σ′dT = σdT + pdv
But pv = ⅔T/m
Hence p being constant,
pdv = ⅔ dT/m
Therefore σ′ = σ + ⅔ 1/m
Now suppose an amount of heat, dH, is given to a single molecule and
that its temperature is T. Its specific heat is σ, and
dH = σmdT
But dH = βdT
Therefore β = σm
Hence 1/m = σ/β
Thus σ′ = σ(1 + 2/(3β))
And σ′/σ = γ
Therefore γ = 1 + 2/(3β)
Or β = 2/(3(γ-1))
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