Lord Kelvin: His Influence on Electrical Measurements and Units

by Common Miner

Overview

Lord Kelvin (William Thomson), arguably Britain's most eminent scientist after Newton, spent much of his life in work which led to the development of today's electrical units and standards. Despite his influence, there are few biographies of stature (largely due to the abstruse nature of much of his technical research). This treatment concentrates upon his work in three phases; discovery of the fundamental concepts and coding them into universal laws, leading the adoption of the metric system, and securing worldwide use of units and standards (now the IEC system).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780863412370
Publisher:	The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Publication date:	01/01/1992
Series:	History of Technology Series , #18
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Kelvin and electrical science
Kelvin and the metric system
metric controversy in Britain and the USA
electrical measurements
Kelvin and the British Association electrical units
international electrical congresses
units and standards for the electrical century
Kelvin, Crompton and the electrical industry. Appendices
James Watt and the metric system
Kelvin and screwthread standards
metrication in Britain
international electrotechnical terminology
William Thomson on the "Thomson Effect"
Crompton's evidence at the Board of Trade enquiry 1891.

Editorial Reviews

Details the contributions by British scientist Kelvin (1824-1907) to modern science, primarily by establishing units of electricity, and gathering scientists from around the world to collaborate on their research and adopt standardized measurements. Acidic paper. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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