Matter and Motion

The great physicist's elegant, concise survey of Newtonian dynamics proceeds gradually from simple particles of matter to physical systems beyond complete analysis. Includes "On the Equation of Motion of a Connected System," from Volume II ofElectricity and Magnetism.Appendixes deal with relativity motion and principles of least action.

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

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

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