John Whitehead
McGraw-Hill | 1939 | ASIN: B003MVECDK | 232 pages | Djvu | 3,8 MB
The purpose of this text is to provide in compact form an introduction
to the physical and mathematical theories of electricity
and magnetism. It is intended for fourth-year undergraduate
students in physics and in electrical engineering. The basis of
the interpretation of electrical phenomena is their manifestation
and measurement in terms of the Newtonian mechanics. The
sequence of subject is in approximate chronological order following
the classical development of electric and magnetic discovery
and science. Thus the opening chapter is on electrostatics, with
immediate development of the idea of potential and its extension
to the interpretation and measurement of all electrostatic phenomena.
Specific inductive capacity, with the attendant
development of the ideas of polarization of various types and of
dielectric displacement, has a chapter of its own. Then come
electric conduction in liquids and solids, electrodynamics,
thermionics, electromagnetics, and electromagnetic induction
in separate chapters in their order. The bases of the electrostatic
and of the electromagnetic systems of units and the relations
between them and to the practical system also have a
chapter of their own. The chapters on alternating currents are
devoted, first, to the essentials of basic circuit theory and, second,
to the elementary development of modern compact and convenient
methods of computation. The final chapter is devoted
to a brief description of the theory of conduction in gases.
The electron theory of matter is introduced at all points to the
extent that it offers an explanation of the physical phenomena
involved. Emphasis throughout, however, is placed on the
essential mechanical character of the quantitative manifestations
of electricity and magnetism upon which our daily measurements
and utilization are based.
The book aims particularly to meet the needs of students who
must acquire, in a relatively short time, the essentials of the
theory of a subject which has developed so widely that a complete
conception of its manifold applications can be gained only by
auxiliary and subsequent readings over longer' periods of time.
A number of other texts have been freely consulted in the
treatment of well-known classical problems, among them particularly
those of J. H. Jeans, S. G. Starling, and W. T. A. Emtage.
My cordial thanks are extended to Professor H. E. Clifford
for his careful editing of the manuscript and for many valuable
suggestions; also to Dr. F. Hamburger, Jr., and J. M. Kopper
for assistance in the preparation of the text and proofs.
J. B. WmTEHEAD.
BALTIMORE, MD.,
July, 1939.