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LECTURE I

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2012

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Summary

The most important branch of physics which at present makes demands upon molecular dynamics seems to me to be the wave theory of light. When I say this, I do not forget the one great branch of physics which at present is reduced to molecular dynamics, the kinetic theory of gases. In saying that the wave theory of light seems to be that branch of physics which is most in want, which most imperatively demands, applications, of molecular dynamics just now, I mean that, while the kinetic theory of gases is a part of molecular dynamics, is founded upon molecular dynamics, works wholly within molecular dynamics, to it molecular dynamics is everything, and it can be advanced solely by molecular dynamics; the wave theory of light is only beginning to demand imperatively applications of that kind of dynamical science.

The dynamics of the wave theory of light began very molecularly in the hands of Fresnel, was continued so by Cauchy, and to some degree, though much less so, in the hands of Green. It was wholly molecular dynamics, but of an imperfect kind in the hands of Fresnel. Cauchy attempted to found his mathematical investigations on a rigorous molecular treatment of the subject. Green almost wholly shook off the molecular treatment, and worked out all that was to be worked out for the wave theory of light, by the dynamics of continuous matter.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010
First published in: 1904

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  • LECTURE I
  • William Thomson, Baron Kelvin
  • Book: Baltimore Lectures on Molecular Dynamics and the Wave Theory of Light
  • Online publication: 05 March 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511694523.005
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  • LECTURE I
  • William Thomson, Baron Kelvin
  • Book: Baltimore Lectures on Molecular Dynamics and the Wave Theory of Light
  • Online publication: 05 March 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511694523.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • LECTURE I
  • William Thomson, Baron Kelvin
  • Book: Baltimore Lectures on Molecular Dynamics and the Wave Theory of Light
  • Online publication: 05 March 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511694523.005
Available formats
×