The Scientific Papers of the Honourable Henry Cavendish

by Maxwell, James Clerk; Larmor, Joseph, Sir

• ISBN13: 9781108018210
• ISBN10: 1108018211
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-02-02
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

Henry Cavendish (1731-1810) was an English scientist whose published work was mostly concerned with electricity. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1760. Cavendish was a prolific scientific investigator, performing experiments on not only electricity but also magnetism, thermometry, gases, heat potential and the chemical composition of water. Although he published some of his research, including his discovery of hydrogen, the majority of his work remained unpublished until 1879, when James Clerk Maxwell published a collection of Cavendish's electrical experiments. These papers showed that Cavendish had discovered many important electrical concepts which had since been credited to other researchers, including the concept of electric potential. First published in 1921, these volumes are a collection of Cavendish's results from his many experiments. Volume 2 contains previously unpublished papers showing the results of Cavendish's chemical, magnetic and thermometry experiments.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

First published paper on electricity, 1771

Preliminary propositions

Appendix

Thoughts concerning electricity

Account of the experiments

Second published paper on electricity, 1776

Experiments in 1771

Experiments in 1772

Experiments in 1773

Measurers

Experiments with the artificial torpedo

Resistance to electricity

Results of comparisons of charges

Results on resistance

Notes by the editor, 1879

Life of Cavendish

Index to Cavendish Manuscripts

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