Matter and Motion (Great Minds Series) [Paperback]

James Clerk Maxwell (Author), Joseph Larmor (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1573929891 | ISBN-13: 978-1573929899 | Publication Date: December 2002

This primer on physics, written in 1877 by the most eminent physicist of the 19th century, is intended as a brief introduction to Newtonian mechanics for students and educated lay readers. Einstein described Maxwell's influence on the scientific understanding of the physical universe as "the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton." Maxwell's ideas also laid the groundwork for Max Planck's subsequent development of the quantum hypothesis. Complete with many useful illustrations to clarify the concepts discussed in the text, this accessible work is well suited for history of science courses or as a still-relevant introduction to basic physics for the average reader.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

A thorough guide to the fundamental principles essential for studying elementary physics. Maxwell was a pioneer of physics and here logically explains and demonstrates the concepts his work built upon. Unifying concepts are introduced in order of complexity to build knowledge and understanding of the timeless laws of physics. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573929891
• ISBN-13: 978-1573929899
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,104,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A A GEM IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, June 16, 2008

By 

Thomas K. Simpson (Saratoga Springs, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Matter And Motion (Paperback)

It's striking that previous reviewers belong to two distinct camps. To some, this little book appears to be an elementary introduction to familiar physics -- even, to "Newtonian physics". Others recognize it for what I believe it is: a beautiful and elegant introduction to a new view of the physical world very different from Newton's. To express his theory of electromagnetic field and the holistic view of nature it demanded, he had found his way to the Lagrangian formulation, based not on the individual forces of Newton, but on the energy of whole systems. Individual elements are derived, if at all, only abstractly by way of generalized coordinates. This little volume restates the elements of this new view elegantly without its analytic mathematics. For more about this turning point in Maxwell's work see my study of its role in the Treatise. Figures of Thought. I spell out this view of Matter and Motion in an article reprinted on my website thomasksimpson.com -- look under the heading "articles".

For a beautiful exposition of the Lagrangian view and its foundation in the Principle of Least Action, see Cornelius Lanczos The Variational Principles of Mechanics (Dover Books on Physics and Chemistry).

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good for the price, February 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Matter and Motion (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

definitely not the best intro to newton mechanics but if you already know it and need the info in a new prespective this book will do you.NOT A SELF STUDY GUIDE.Is best when used as a review.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From the horses mouth, February 10, 2001

By 

Muzaffer Muctehitzade "hacibey" (Boston, Ma USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Matter and Motion (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

This is how founding fathers thought and wrote about the Matter and Motion. It is a nostalgic reading. Maxwell himself wrote about Matter and Motion of course based on Newtonian Physics. You do not learn any new Physics unless you are doing study in the History of Science. Maxwell basically starts with definition of concepts in Newtonian Mechanics and explains Newton's laws of Motion. Force, Energy, Momentum all the good staff. Short book and interesting piece of history. Definitely worth reading of it for leisure or for study.