Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons (eBook)

From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable

Paul Nahin (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2020
232 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-19994-8 (ISBN)

Infos

An entertaining mathematical exploration of the heat equation and its role in the triumphant development of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cableHeat, like gravity, shapes nearly every aspect of our world and universe, from how milk dissolves in coffee to how molten planets cool. The heat equation, a cornerstone of modern physics, demystifies such processes, painting a mathematical picture of the way heat diffuses through matter. Presenting the mathematics and history behind the heat equation, Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons tells the remarkable story of how this foundational idea brought about one of the greatest technological advancements of the modern era.Paul Nahin vividly recounts the heat equation's tremendous influence on society, showing how French mathematical physicist Joseph Fourier discovered, derived, and solved the equation in the early nineteenth century. Nahin then follows Scottish physicist William Thomson, whose further analysis of Fourier's explorations led to the pioneering trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. This feat of engineering reduced the time it took to send a message across the ocean from weeks to minutes. Readers also learn that Thomson used Fourier's solutions to calculate the age of the earth, and, in a bit of colorful lore, that writer Charles Dickens relied on the trans-Atlantic cable to save himself from a career-damaging scandal. The book's mathematical and scientific explorations can be easily understood by anyone with a basic knowledge of high school calculus and physics, and MATLAB code is included to aid readers who would like to solve the heat equation themselves.A testament to the intricate links between mathematics and physics, Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons offers a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between a formative equation and one of the most important developments in the history of human communication.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 17.3.2020
• Zusatzinfo: 37 b/w illus.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Angewandte Mathematik
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Mathematische Spiele und Unterhaltung
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Atom- / Kern- / Molekularphysik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Thermodynamik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Elektrotechnik / Energietechnik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Maschinenbau
• Schlagworte: 1866 cable • Albert Einstein • Aluminium • Ampere • Amplitude • analog computer • Analog device • analytical theory of heat • AP-calculus • AP-physics • Astronomer Royal • Atlantic cable equation • Big O notation • Calculation • capacitance • capacitor • Celestial mechanics • Charge Density • Charles Dicken’s mistress • circular ring • classical electromagnetism • Clothing • coefficient • Complex Analysis • complex number • Conservation of Energy • Convective Heat Transfer • Cooling • cooling sphere • differential equation • Diffusion Equation • Dirichlet’s discontinuous integral • Duhamel’s integral • Electrical Engineering • electrical physics • electric arc • electric charge • Electric Field • electricity • Electric potential • Electromagnetic radiation • electron • electronic computation • Elena Prestini • Eleusinian mysteries • emissivity • Energy Storage • Engineering • Equation • Ethylene • Even and odd functions • Extremely Low Frequency • flow of heat energy • Fourier • Fourier series • Fourier’s law of conduction • Fourier’s theorem on polynomial real roots • Fourier Transforms • François Budan • Galvanometer • General relativity • geological survey • George Boole • Georg Ohm • Gibbs phenomenon • Gravity • Greenhouse Effect • Hans Bethe • Heat • heat capacity • heat equation • heat equation in a long radiating wire • heat equation in an infinite mass • heat equation in a sphere • heat transfer • Hellenistic period • HERTZ • History of Science and Technology • Hypotenuse • Inductance • inductor • infinity • Instant • insulated sphere • Integral • Interstellar Medium • Jacques Sturm • James Clerk Maxwell • Joseph-Louis Lagrange • Laplace transform • Lava • linear differential equation • Lord Kelvin • Magnetic field • Mathematical Physics • mathematician • Mathematics • Maxwell's equations • Melting • melting point • Michael Faraday • Modern Physics • Molecule • molten sphere • Nebular hypothesis • neutron star • Nuclear explosion • nuclear fusion • nuclear submarine • nuclear weapon • Ohm • Oliver Heaviside • Oscillation • partial differential equation • Periodic function • perpetual motion • Peter Dirichlet, Claude Louis Navier • Phase detector • Phase distortion • physicist • Pi • Plasma (physics) • Probability • Proportionality (mathematics) • Pure Mathematics • Pythagorean Theorem • Quantity • Radiation • Radioactive decay • Requirement • resistor • result • Richard Feynman • RX (rocket family) • scientific romance • Scientist • second order partial differential equation • semi-infinite mass with a finite thickness • semi-infinite mass with infinite thickness • silicate • Sine Wave • Special case • Special relativity • Summation • Temperature • Temperature Gradient • tensor calculus • The Evolution of Applied Harmonic Analysis • theoretical physics • theory • theory of heat • Thermal Conduction • thermal conductivity • Thermal Diffusivity • Thermometer • Thermonuclear fusion • Thesmophoria • Transistor • Transmitter • Trigonometric Series • U0 • Valence electron • Variable (mathematics) • Volt • voltage drop • Voltage source • Voltaic pile • wave equation • weapon of mass destruction • Who is Fourier? • William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
• ISBN-10: 0-691-19994-9 / 0691199949
• ISBN-13: 978-0-691-19994-8 / 9780691199948