Name: Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons: From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable
Price: 29.86 EUR
Availability: InStock
Author: Paul J. Nahin
ISBN: 9780691191720

portada Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons: From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable

Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons: From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable

Type

Physical Book

Author

Paul J. Nahin

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Year

2020

Language

English

Pages

232

Format

Hardcover

Dimensions

23.9 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm

Weight

0.54 kg.

ISBN13

9780691191720

Synopsis "Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons: From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable "

An entertaining mathematical exploration of the heat equation and its role in the triumphant development of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable Heat, like gravity, shapes nearly every aspect of our world and universe, from how milk dissolves in coffee to how molten planets cool. The heat equation, a cornerstone of modern physics, demystifies such processes, painting a mathematical picture of the way heat diffuses through matter. Presenting the mathematics and history behind the heat equation, Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons tells the remarkable story of how this foundational idea brought about one of the greatest technological advancements of the modern era. Paul Nahin vividly recounts the heat equation's tremendous influence on society, showing how French mathematical physicist Joseph Fourier discovered, derived, and solved the equation in the early nineteenth century. Nahin then follows Scottish physicist William Thomson, whose further analysis of Fourier's explorations led to the pioneering trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. This feat of engineering reduced the time it took to send a message across the ocean from weeks to minutes. Readers also learn that Thomson used Fourier's solutions to calculate the age of the earth, and, in a bit of colorful lore, that writer Charles Dickens relied on the trans-Atlantic cable to save himself from a career-damaging scandal. The book's mathematical and scientific explorations can be easily understood by anyone with a basic knowledge of high school calculus and physics, and MATLAB code is included to aid readers who would like to solve the heat equation themselves. A testament to the intricate links between mathematics and physics, Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons offers a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between a formative equation and one of the most important developments in the history of human communication.

Paul J. Nahin

(Author)

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Paul J. Nahin is an American mathematician and writer, known for his contributions to the popularization of mathematics and his ability to make complex concepts accessible. He was born in 1949 and graduated from Princeton University. Nahin has published several books on mathematics, exploring topics such as number theory, the history of mathematics, and unsolved mathematical problems. In addition to his work as an author, he was a professor at the University of New Hampshire. Among his most notable works are The Mathematics of Love and An Imaginary Tale. His accessible and narrative style has made mathematics understandable and appealing to the general public.

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