Scientific Papers, Volume 1

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University Press, 1898 - Kinetic theory of gases - 998 pages
 

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Page 265 - If the action of an agent be measured by the product of its force into its velocity; and if, similarly, the reaction of the resistance be measured by the velocities of its several parts into their several forces, whether these arise from friction, cohesion, weight, or acceleration — action and reaction in all combinations of machines will be equal and opposite.
Page 262 - Change of motion is proportional to the impressed force and takes place in the direction of the straight line in which the force acts.
Page 262 - Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line, except in so far as it may be compelled by impressed forces to change that state.
Page 491 - ... of a second that tube was exposed to a pressure of four or five tons weight per square inch on its outer surface, and no pressure on the inner. The impulsive pressure on the bottom of the tube projected it upwards so that it stuck in the tallow which fills the hollow of the steel plug.
Page 492 - I substituted for the brass tube, was cracked, and an iron disc, tightly screwed into the bottom of it to close it, was blown in. I have since used a portion of a thicker gun-barrel, and have had the end welded in. But I feel sure that an impulsive pressure of ten or twelve tons weight would seriously damage even this. These remarks seem to be of some interest on several grounds, for they not only explain the crushing of the open copper cases of those of the
Page 167 - Quaternions have one grand and fatal defect They cannot be applied to space of n dimensions, they are contented to deal with those poor three dimensions in which mere mortals are doomed to dwell, but which cannot bound the limitless aspirations of a Cayley or a Sylvester. From the physical point of view this instead of a defect, is to be regarded as the greatest possible recommendation. It shows, in fact, Quaternions to be a special instrument so constructed for application to the Actual as to have...
Page 395 - ... paying" work than did Clerk Maxwell. But by sheer strength of intellect, though with the very minimum of knowledge how to use it to advantage under the conditions of the Examination, he obtained the position of Second Wrangler, and was bracketed equal with the Senior Wrangler in the higher ordeal of the Smith's Prizes. His name appears in the . Cambridge Calendar as Maxwell of Trinity, but he was originally entered at Peterhouse, and kept his first term there, in that small but most ancient foundation...
Page 173 - I have endeavoured to infer, those of chemistry and molecular attractions, or as the laws of chemical affinity in their turn transcend those of mere mechanics. Science can be expected to do but little to aid us here, since the instrument of research is itself the object of investigation. It can but enlighten us as to the depths of our ignorance, and lead us to look to a higher aid for that which most nearly concerns our well-being.
Page 164 - Quaternions than that they enable us to exhibit in a singularly compact and elegant form, whose meaning is obvious at a glance on account of the utter inartificiality of the method, results which in the ordinary Cartesian coordinates are of the utmost complexity, a very powerful argument for their use would be furnished. But it would be unjust to Quaternions to be content with such a statement ; for we are fully entitled to say that in all cases, even in those to which the Cartesian methods seem...

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