13 June 1831 (in Edinburgh, Scotland)-05 November 1879 (in Cambridge, England). Physicist.

Nowadays considered to be one of the most important physicists of his time. Next to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, Maxwell is looked upon to be one the founding fathers of modern physics. Many of his theories and achievements still influence everyday life to this day.

=='''Biography'''==

James Clerk Maxwell was born on June 13, 1831, the only child to lawyer John Clerk and his wife, in Edinburgh. In his early childhood, Maxwell, an attentive and inquisitive child, enjoyed rural upbringing, and was taught at home by his mother. Maxwell’s mother died when he was only eight years old, forcing his father to send him to school in Edinburgh (Sorge).

It was at Edinburgh Academy that Maxwell was finally able to live out his thirst for knowledge in the field of natural sciences. At the age of 14, Maxwell published his first theory On the description of oval curves and those having a plurality of foci. Before eventually following the call of a scientific career, Maxwell first enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1847, taking classes in Natural and Moral Philosophy, which reflected his religious education according to humanitarian values as a child. In 1850, Maxwell transferred to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics in 1854. During his appointment as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Aberdeen’s Marischal College in 1856, Maxwell concentrated on his findings that the Saturn rings consisted of numerous small solid particles, which was later confirmed by the NASA Voyager 1 expedition in 1980. (O’Connor).

From 1860 – 1865, Maxwell held a chair as Professor of Natural Philosophy at King’s College London. It was during his time at King’s College that Maxwell worked on his most important achievements, including his key finding about the theory of electromagnetic field.
Maxwell also questioned the kinetic theory of gases, coming up with his kinetic theory. After his retirement from King’s College, Maxwell continued his scientific research on his estate in Scotland, where he also enjoyed his private life with his wife Katherine Mary Dewar, whom he had married in 1859. Apart from receiving numerous awards, such as the prestigious Hopkins Prize, Maxwell was encouraged to establish the Cavendish Laboratory as Professor of Physics at Cambridge University in 1871.

Between 1872 until his death on November 5th, 1879, Maxwell devoted his time to the works of Henry Cavendish, experimenting with Cavendish’s findings on experimental electricity. This then resulted in the publication of The Electrical Researches of the Honourable Henry Cavendish edited by Maxwell in 1879, which has retained its importance until today (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation).

=='''Achievements in Physics and Mathematics'''==

'''Colour Photography'''

In 1861, Maxwell produced the earliest colour photograph. Maxwell had photographer Thomas Sutton photograph an image of a tartan ribbon three times through red, blue, and yellow filters, then recombining the images into one colour composite. Because of this photograph, Maxwell is credited as the founder of the theory of additive colour. Beforehand, Maxwell had already demonstrated that all colours can be produced by different combinations of the three primary colours (Sack).

'''Maxwells Distribution on the theory of gases'''

Maxwell figured out the distribution of speed in a gas at a certain temperature. He realised that the air molecules are travelling at different speeds, some moving fast, others travelling at moderate speed or not moving at all. Maxwell thus calculated the speed of different molecules. His result is referred to as the Maxwell distribution:

f(v)=(m2πkBT−−−−−−√)34πv2⋅exp(−mv22kBT) (tec-science).

Ludwig Boltzman later further developed Maxwell’s Distribution to form the Maxwell-Boltzman kinetic theory.

=='''Maxwell’s Equations'''==

Maxwell’s most important achievement is his theory of the electromagnetic field. He brought together the work of other physicists on electricity and magnetism, such as Faraday’s Law, Gauss’ Law and Ampere’s Law, and added his own insights to formulate his theory on electromagnetism. Maxwell showed that electricity and magnetism create waves of electromagnetic energy. In 1873, he managed to came up with four equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields propagate, interact, and how they are influenced by objects, i.e. that they are different manifestations of the same thing - the electromagnetic force. Maxwell furthermore proved that electromagnetic waves travelled at a constant speed of around 300,000 km s, at the speed of light. He, thus, proved that light was nothing but an electromagnetic wave (Institute of Physics).

Maxwell’s theory had an important impact both on future research and technical inventions. Einstein even based his theory of special relativity on Maxwell’s findings, while e.g. the basic technology of cellular mobile phones, portable transistor radios and WiFi are also based on Maxwell’s theory (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation).

=='''Sources'''==

James Clerk Maxwell Foundation. Honorary Patron: Professor Peter Higgs, 1977. www.clerkmaxwellfoundation.org/.

“Maxwell’s equations.” ''Institute of Physics.'' www.iop.org/explore-physics/physics-stepping-stones/maxwells-equations.

“Maxwell-Boltzman Distribution.” ''tec-science'', 15 February 2019. www.tec-science.com/thermodynamics/kinetic-theory-of-gases/maxwell-boltzmann-distribution/.

O'Connor, J.J. and Robertson, E.F. “James Clerk Maxwell.” ''MacTutor History of Mathematics.School of Mathematics and Statistics.'' University of Saint Andrews, Scotland, November 1997. www.mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Maxwell.

Sack, Harald. “James Clerk Maxwell and the Very First Colour Photograph.” ''SciHi Blog'', 17 May 2020, scihi.org/james-clerk-maxwell-color-photograph/.

Sorge, Silke. „Physiker, mathematisches Genie und Hahn im Korb auf der Venus.“ ''uni-online'', 2006. www.uni-online.de/personen/james-clerk-maxwell/.

James Clerk Maxwell

2021-02-07T20:30:23Z

AE96:

13 June 1831 (in Edinburgh, Scotland)-05 November 1879 (in Cambridge, England). Physicist.

Nowadays considered to be one of the most important physicists of his time. Next to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, Maxwell is looked upon to be one the founding fathers of modern physics. Many of his theories and achievements still influence everyday life to this day.

'''Contents:'''

1. Biography

2. Achievements in Physics and Mathematics

3. Sources

=='''Biography'''==

James Clerk Maxwell was born on June 13, 1831, the only child to lawyer John Clerk and his wife, in Edinburgh. In his early childhood, Maxwell, an attentive and inquisitive child, enjoyed rural upbringing, and was taught at home by his mother. Maxwell’s mother died when he was only eight years old, forcing his father to send him to school in Edinburgh (Sorge).

It was at Edinburgh Academy that Maxwell was finally able to live out his thirst for knowledge in the field of natural sciences. At the age of 14, Maxwell published his first theory On the description of oval curves and those having a plurality of foci. Before eventually following the call of a scientific career, Maxwell first enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1847, taking classes in Natural and Moral Philosophy, which reflected his religious education according to humanitarian values as a child. In 1850, Maxwell transferred to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics in 1854. During his appointment as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Aberdeen’s Marischal College in 1856, Maxwell concentrated on his findings that the Saturn rings consisted of numerous small solid particles, which was later confirmed by the NASA Voyager 1 expedition in 1980. (O’Connor).

From 1860 – 1865, Maxwell held a chair as Professor of Natural Philosophy at King’s College London. It was during his time at King’s College that Maxwell worked on his most important achievements, including his key finding about the theory of electromagnetic field.
Maxwell also questioned the kinetic theory of gases, coming up with his kinetic theory. After his retirement from King’s College, Maxwell continued his scientific research on his estate in Scotland, where he also enjoyed his private life with his wife Katherine Mary Dewar, whom he had married in 1859. Apart from receiving numerous awards, such as the prestigious Hopkins Prize, Maxwell was encouraged to establish the Cavendish Laboratory as Professor of Physics at Cambridge University in 1871.

Between 1872 until his death on November 5th, 1879, Maxwell devoted his time to the works of Henry Cavendish, experimenting with Cavendish’s findings on experimental electricity. This then resulted in the publication of The Electrical Researches of the Honourable Henry Cavendish edited by Maxwell in 1879, which has retained its importance until today (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation).

=='''Achievements in Physics and Mathematics'''==

'''Colour Photography'''

In 1861, Maxwell produced the earliest colour photograph. Maxwell had photographer Thomas Sutton photograph an image of a tartan ribbon three times through red, blue, and yellow filters, then recombining the images into one colour composite. Because of this photograph, Maxwell is credited as the founder of the theory of additive colour. Beforehand, Maxwell had already demonstrated that all colours can be produced by different combinations of the three primary colours (Sack).

'''Maxwells Distribution on the theory of gases'''

Maxwell figured out the distribution of speed in a gas at a certain temperature. He realised that the air molecules are travelling at different speeds, some moving fast, others travelling at moderate speed or not moving at all. Maxwell thus calculated the speed of different molecules. His result is referred to as the Maxwell distribution:

f(v)=(m2πkBT−−−−−−√)34πv2⋅exp(−mv22kBT) (tec-science).

Ludwig Boltzman later further developed Maxwell’s Distribution to form the Maxwell-Boltzman kinetic theory.

'''Maxwell’s Equations'''

Maxwell’s most important achievement is his theory of the electromagnetic field. Maxwell brought together the work of other physicists on electricity and magnetism, such as Faraday’s Law, Gauss’ Law and Ampere’s Law, and added his own insights to formulate his theory on electromagnetism. Maxwell showed that electricity and magnetism create waves of electromagnetic energy. In 1873, he managed to came up with four equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields propagate, interact, and how they are influenced by objects, i.e. that they are different manifestations of the same thing - the electromagnetic force. Maxwell furthermore proved that electromagnetic waves travelled at a constant speed of around 300,000 km s, at the speed of light. Maxwell, thus, proved that light was nothing but an electromagnetic wave (Institute of Physics).
Maxwell’s theory had an important impact both on future research and technical inventions. Einstein even based his theory of special relativity on Maxwell’s findings, while e.g. the basic technology of cellular mobile phones, portable transistor radios and WiFi are also based on Maxwell’s theory (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation).

=='''Sources'''==

James Clerk Maxwell Foundation. Honorary Patron: Professor Peter Higgs, 1977. www.clerkmaxwellfoundation.org/.

“Maxwell’s equations.” ''Institute of Physics.'' www.iop.org/explore-physics/physics-stepping-stones/maxwells-equations.

“Maxwell-Boltzman Distribution.” ''tec-science'', 15 February 2019. www.tec-science.com/thermodynamics/kinetic-theory-of-gases/maxwell-boltzmann-distribution/.

O'Connor, J.J. and Robertson, E.F. “James Clerk Maxwell.” ''MacTutor History of Mathematics.School of Mathematics and Statistics.'' University of Saint Andrews, Scotland, November 1997. www.mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Maxwell.

Sack, Harald. “James Clerk Maxwell and the Very First Colour Photograph.” ''SciHi Blog'', 17 May 2020, scihi.org/james-clerk-maxwell-color-photograph/.

Sorge, Silke. „Physiker, mathematisches Genie und Hahn im Korb auf der Venus.“ ''uni-online'', 2006. www.uni-online.de/personen/james-clerk-maxwell/.

James Clerk Maxwell

2021-02-07T20:28:18Z

AE96: Created page with "13 June 1831 (in Edinburgh, Scotland)-05 November 1879 (in Cambridge, England). Physicist. Nowadays considered to be one of the most important physicists of his time. Next t..."

13 June 1831 (in Edinburgh, Scotland)-05 November 1879 (in Cambridge, England). Physicist.

Nowadays considered to be one of the most important physicists of his time. Next to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, Maxwell is looked upon to be one the founding fathers of modern physics. Many of his theories and achievements still influence everyday life to this day.

'''Contents:'''

1. Biography

2. Achievements in Physics and Mathematics

3. Sources

=='''Biography'''==

James Clerk Maxwell was born on June 13, 1831, the only child to lawyer John Clerk and his wife, in Edinburgh. In his early childhood, Maxwell, an attentive and inquisitive child, enjoyed rural upbringing, and was taught at home by his mother. Maxwell’s mother died when he was only eight years old, forcing his father to send him to school in Edinburgh (Sorge).

It was at Edinburgh Academy that Maxwell was finally able to live out his thirst for knowledge in the field of natural sciences. At the age of 14, Maxwell published his first theory On the description of oval curves and those having a plurality of foci. Before eventually following the call of a scientific career, Maxwell first enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1847, taking classes in Natural and Moral Philosophy, which reflected his religious education according to humanitarian values as a child. In 1850, Maxwell transferred to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics in 1854. During his appointment as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Aberdeen’s Marischal College in 1856, Maxwell concentrated on his findings that the Saturn rings consisted of numerous small solid particles, which was later confirmed by the NASA Voyager 1 expedition in 1980. (O’Connor).

From 1860 – 1865, Maxwell held a chair as Professor of Natural Philosophy at King’s College London. It was during his time at King’s College that Maxwell worked on his most important achievements, including his key finding about the theory of electromagnetic field.
Maxwell also questioned the kinetic theory of gases, coming up with his kinetic theory. After his retirement from King’s College, Maxwell continued his scientific research on his estate in Scotland, where he also enjoyed his private life with his wife Katherine Mary Dewar, whom he had married in 1859. Apart from receiving numerous awards, such as the prestigious Hopkins Prize, Maxwell was encouraged to establish the Cavendish Laboratory as Professor of Physics at Cambridge University in 1871.

Between 1872 until his death on November 5th, 1879, Maxwell devoted his time to the works of Henry Cavendish, experimenting with Cavendish’s findings on experimental electricity. This then resulted in the publication of The Electrical Researches of the Honourable Henry Cavendish edited by Maxwell in 1879, which has retained its importance until today (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation).

=='''Achievements in Physics and Mathematics'''==

'''Colour Photography'''

In 1861, Maxwell produced the earliest colour photograph. Maxwell had photographer Thomas Sutton photograph an image of a tartan ribbon three times through red, blue, and yellow filters, then recombining the images into one colour composite. Because of this photograph, Maxwell is credited as the founder of the theory of additive colour. Beforehand, Maxwell had already demonstrated that all colours can be produced by different combinations of the three primary colours (Sack).

'''Maxwells Distribution on the theory of gases'''

Maxwell figured out the distribution of speed in a gas at a certain temperature. He realised that the air molecules are travelling at different speeds, some moving fast, others travelling at moderate speed or not moving at all. Maxwell thus calculated the speed of different molecules. His result is referred to as the Maxwell distribution:

f(v)=(m2πkBT−−−−−−√)34πv2⋅exp(−mv22kBT) (tec-science).

Ludwig Boltzman later further developed Maxwell’s Distribution to form the Maxwell-Boltzman kinetic theory.

'''Maxwell’s Equations'''

Maxwell’s most important achievement is his theory of the electromagnetic field. Maxwell brought together the work of other physicists on electricity and magnetism, such as Faraday’s Law, Gauss’ Law and Ampere’s Law, and added his own insights to formulate his theory on electromagnetism. Maxwell showed that electricity and magnetism create waves of electromagnetic energy. In 1873, he managed to came up with four equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields propagate, interact, and how they are influenced by objects, i.e. that they are different manifestations of the same thing - the electromagnetic force. Maxwell furthermore proved that electromagnetic waves travelled at a constant speed of around 300,000 km s, at the speed of light. Maxwell, thus, proved that light was nothing but an electromagnetic wave (Institute of Physics).
Maxwell’s theory had an important impact both on future research and technical inventions. Einstein even based his theory of special relativity on Maxwell’s findings, while e.g. the basic technology of cellular mobile phones, portable transistor radios and WiFi are also based on Maxwell’s theory (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation).

=='''Sources'''==

James Clerk Maxwell Foundation. Honorary Patron: Professor Peter Higgs, 1977. www.clerkmaxwellfoundation.org/.

Sack, Harald. “James Clerk Maxwell and the Very First Colour Photograph.” ''SciHi Blog'', 17 May 2020, scihi.org/james-clerk-maxwell-color-photograph/.

“Maxwell’s equations.” ''Institute of Physics.'' www.iop.org/explore-physics/physics-stepping-stones/maxwells-equations.

“Maxwell-Boltzman Distribution.” ''tec-science'', 15 February 2019. www.tec-science.com/thermodynamics/kinetic-theory-of-gases/maxwell-boltzmann-distribution/.

O'Connor, J.J. and Robertson, E.F. “James Clerk Maxwell.” ''MacTutor History of Mathematics.School of Mathematics and Statistics.'' University of Saint Andrews, Scotland, November 1997. www.mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Maxwell.

Sorge, Silke. „Physiker, mathematisches Genie und Hahn im Korb auf der Venus.“ ''uni-online'', 2006. www.uni-online.de/personen/james-clerk-maxwell/.