Lecturres on Theoretical Physics: delivered at the University of Leiden

Abstract

DURING the last twenty years of his tenure of the chair of theoretical physics at Leyden, Prof. Lorentz delivered short courses of lectures analysing—in the incomparable manner we have learnt to associate with his name—the various aspects of his subject which, during that period, came in for critical examination by the scientific world. As a result of the energy and enthusiasm of his pupils, these lectures have been preserved in book form, and the present volume is a translation (the originals are in Dutch) of the first of the series. It deals with such subjects as (we quote the titles of the separate lectures) aberration of light; mechanical ether theories; Kelvin's model of the ether; attraction and repulsion of pulsating spheres; inner friction and sliding, treated hydro-dynamically; friction and sliding, treated kinetically; Knudsen's investigations on rarefied gases; remarks on Lesage's theory of gravitation; friction and heat conduction in the propagation of sound; kinetic theory of systems of electrons, Richardson's investigations; vacuum contact of plates of different metals; problems in which the motion of electrons plays a part.

Lecturres on Theoretical Physics: delivered at the University of Leiden.

H. A. Lorentz. Authorised translation by Dr. L. Silberstein and A. P. Trivelli. Vol 1: Aether Theories and Aether Models, edited by Dr. H. Bremekamp: Kinetical Problems, edited by Dr. E. D. Bruins and Dr. J. Reudler. Pp. xi + 195. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1927.) 12s. 6d. net.