James Clerk Maxwell, 1831-1879
Biographical note
Scottish mathematical physicist. His most prominent achievement was formulating classical electromagnetic theory. This unites all previously unrelated observations, experiments, and equations of electricity, magnetism, and optics into a consistent theory. Maxwell's equations demonstrate that electricity, magnetism and light are all manifestations of the same phenomenon, namely the electromagnetic field. Subsequently, all other classic laws or equations of these disciplines became simplified cases of Maxwell's equations. Maxwell's achievements concerning electromagnetism have been called the "second great unification in physics", after the first one realised by Isaac Newton.
Works
- Five of Maxwell's Papers
- On a Dynamical Top, for exhibiting the phenomena of the motion of a system of invariable form about a fixed point, with some suggestions as to the Earth's motion
- On the stability of the motion of Saturn's rings .. [1859]
An essay which obtained the Adams prize for the year 1856, in the University of Cambridge - An elementary treatise on electricity [1888]
- A treatise on electricity and magnetism [1873] v.1; v.2
- Theory of heat; / Maxwell, James Clerk, 1831-1879 [1899]
- Matter and motion / with notes and appendices by Sir Joseph Larmor [1920]
- The scientific papers of James Clerk Maxwell / edited by W.D. Niven [1890] v.1; v.2
- The scientific papers of the Honourable Henry Cavendish ... Edited from the published papers, and the Cavendish manuscripts in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire [1921]
