Physique

1804 · rif. 4488 — London: J Mawman 1804. First Edition. original paper backed boards. A very good copy with some wear to the spine; feint tide mark to corners of the frontis. 8vo xv 1 - Directions for the bookbinder 1 - 562 2 - adverts pp. 9 engraved plates. An important work in the history of thermodynamics that established several fundamental laws of heat radiation i.e. that the emissivity and absorptivity for any surface are equal; that the emissivity of a surface increases with the increase in reflectivity; that the intensity of heat radiated from a surface is proportional to the sine of the angles of the rays to the surface. He was also able to distinguish between conduction and radiation of heat. Leslie's research and this book also played an important role in the early nineteenth century debate about whether heat was a form of motion or matter. In chapter 19 Leslie describes some of the apparatus notably a photometer that he used in his experiments two distinct types are illus. He appears to have been a particularly adept designer of experiments and apparatus. DSB VIII 261 - 262 ; Cardwell Watt to Clausius pp. 107-112; Roberts p. 203; Neville II p. 57. J Mawman hardcover books