Fragments of Science: A Series of Detached Essays, Addresses, and Reviews. V. 1-2

Name: Fragments of Science: A Series of Detached Essays, Addresses, and Reviews. V. 1-2
Author: John Tyndall

By John Tyndall

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Essays, Letters & Speeches Science - Physics

About This Book

A wide-ranging collection of essays, lectures, and reviews examines physical laws and their applications, with sustained attention to radiation, the nature of the luminiferous aether, molecular and thermal phenomena, optics, and spectroscopy. Experimental results on radiant heat, light, absorption by gases and vapours, and chemical effects of illumination are described, and airborne dust and contagion are considered with practical comment on germ theory and hygiene. Other pieces offer geological and scenic observations, discussions of instrumentation such as fog-signals and the electric light, and contributions to magnetism and molecular physics. A second volume addresses intersections of physical and mental questions, including vitality, prayer and natural law, miracles, materialism, and debates on fermentation, spontaneous generation, and evolution.

About the Author

John Tyndall

John Tyndall was a prominent 19th-century physicist and mountaineer, known for his contributions to the understanding of light and heat. His work in atmospheric physics and his explorations in the Alps significantly advanced the study of glaciers and their formation. Tyndall's notable writings include "Six Lectures on Light," which elucidates the principles of optics, and "The Glaciers of the Alps," where he combines scientific inquiry with personal narrative. His essays, such as "Essays on the Use and Limit of the Imagination in Science," reflect his philosophical approach to science, emphasizing the interplay between imagination and empirical observation.