Text extracted from opening pages of book: HEAT FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS BY EDWIN EDSER ASSOCIATE OK THK KOYAL COU. KGK OK SCIENCE, LONDON FELLOW OK THK PHYSICAL SOCIETY OK LONDON AUTHOR OK '' LIGHT KOK STUDENTS, DIKKKKKNTIAL AND CALCULUS KOR BEGINNKKS, & C. MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1915 COPYRIGHT. First Edition, 1899. Reprinted 1901, 1903, 1004, 1905, 1906 ( with additions}^ 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1915. PREFACE MY aim in writing this book has been to give a compre hensive account of the science of Heat in both its theoretical and experimental aspects, so far as this can be done without the use of the higher mathematics. It is intended for students who already possess an elementary knowledge of fundamental physical principles, but whose training has not, as yet, qualified them to derive full benefit from more advanced text-books, foremost amongst which must be placed the excellent treatise on The Theory of Heat, by Professor Thos. Preston, M. A., F. R. S., & c. Much recent work has been included in order to give as complete and many-sided a survey of the subject as possible. The experiments to be performed by the student have been selected so as to illustrate the most important points in each chapter, and it is believed that the descriptions given will be found sufficient to ensure accurate results. Great stress has been laid on the necessity for due precautions in connection with thcrmometry. The whole science of heat is based on thermometric measurements, hence too greaf an im portance cannot be attached to this part of the subject. Following the nomenclature used in the Smithsonian Physical Tables, the term therm has been used to denote the quantity* of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water through iC Confusion between the gram-caloric and the kilogram-calorie ( which are often indiscriminately denoted by the term calorie) is thus avoided. In treating of Thermodynamics an acquaintance with the method of expansion by the Binomial Theorem is assumed. vi PREFACE The notation of the infinitesimal calculus has been used, but each problem has been worked out from first principles, no previous knowledge of the calculus being taken for granted. The proofs given are consequently often much longer than those fonnd in advanced text-books, but the clear indication of the various assumptions made in the course of each investi gation will prove a sufficient compensation to the conscientious student. The necessity for a careful study of Thermodynamics has been emphasised by the recent publication of popular accounts of the wonderful properties of liquid air. Even a slight knowledge of thermodynamical principles would have created as much distrust in these reports as in an account of any other method of obtaining perpetual motion. A short section has been devoted to the use of Temperature-Entropy diagrams. Owing to the kindness of the publishers a considerable number of illustrations, representing historic apparatus, has been included, those marked [ P.] being from the previously mentioned treatise of Prof. Preston, but no fewer than 155 figures have been specially prepared for the book. My best thanks are due to Prof. R. A. Gregory and Mr. A. T. Simmons for their constant help and advice whilst the sheets have been passing through the press. Mr. Robert B. Thomp son and Mr. Leslie H. Hounsfield have also kindly read the proofs of the earlier pages, and their criticisms, being those of earnest and painstaking students, have proved most valuable. My thanks are also due to the authorities of the Albert and Victoria Museum, South Kensington, who kindly gave me per mission to photograph some valuable historical apparatus in their collections for reproduction in this book. EDWIN EDSER. PUTNEY, September, 1899. The attention of students is directed to the solutions of difficult problems given on pp. 473-487. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE TEMPERATURE AND THERMOMETRY I CHAPTER II ERRORS OF A MERCUR