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Harvard Classics, Vol. 30
Every educated man who tries to understand the forces at work in the world in which he is living … must have some interest in that peculiar kind of mental labour, which works and acts in the sciences in question.
On the Conservation of Force
Hermann
von Helmholtz

Harvard Classics, Vol. 30

Scientific Papers

Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology

The treatises in this volume delivered by the fathers of their respective fields offer a glimpse into a time when the frontier of a science could be revolutionized by one person. The 134 illustrations provide an interactive side to these instructive lectures.

Bibliographic Record

Contents

NEW YORK: P.F. COLLIER & SON COMPANY, 1909–14
NEW YORK: BARTLEBY.COM, 2001

Michael Faraday
Introductory Note
The Forces of Matter

  1. The Force of Gravitation
  2. Gravitation—Cohesion
  3. Cohesion—Chemical Affinity
  4. Chemical Affinity—Heat
  5. Magnetism—Electricity
  6. The Correlation of the Physical Forces
The Chemical History of a Candle

  1. A Candle: The Flame—Its Sources—Structure—Mobility—Brightness
  2. A Candle: Brightness of the Flames—Air Necessary for Combustion—Production of Water
  3. Products: Water from the Combustion—Nature of Water—A Compound—Hydrogen
  4. Hydrogen in the Candle—Burns into Water—The Other Part of Water—Oxygen
  5. Oxygen Present in the Air—Nature of the Atmosphere—Its Properties—Other Products from the Candle—Carbonic Acid—Its Properties
  6. Carbon or Charcoal—Coal-Gas—Respiration and its Analogy to the Burning of a Candle—Conclusion
Hermann von Helmholtz
Introductory Note
On the Conservation of Force
Ice and Glaciers
Ice and Glaciers: Additions
Lord Kelvin
Introductory Note
The Wave Theory of Light
The Tides
The Tides: Appendix A
Simon Newcomb
Introductory Note
The Extent of the Universe
Sir Archibald Geikie
Introductory Note
Geographical Evolution