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 The Force of Gravitation Gravitation—Cohesion Cohesion—Chemical Affinity Chemical Affinity—Heat Magnetism—Electricity The Correlation of the Physical Forces The Chemical History of a Candle A Candle: The Flame—Its Sources—Structure—Mobility—Brightness A Candle: Brightness of the Flames—Air Necessary for Combustion—Production of Water Products: Water from the Combustion—Nature of Water—A Compound—Hydrogen Hydrogen in the Candle—Burns into Water—The Other Part of Water—Oxygen Oxygen Present in the Air—Nature of the Atmosphere—Its Properties—Other Products from the Candle—Carbonic Acid—Its Properties 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