Abstract
DIFFICULTIES encountered by Stoner1,2 and Guggenheim3–5 in their attempts to apply thermodynamics to systems which contain magnetizable matter have made these writers aware of important defects in the usual development of the notion of energy in the theory of magnetism and in the analogous theory of electrostatics. The difficulties occur at the outset, when it is desired to write a general equation to express the first law of thermodynamics; such an equation must allow for density change in the material substance of the system and must include a term to allow for variation of magnetic energy. It is then essential to express this latter variation in a form which is valid when the material bodies in the system are deformable. Stoner and Guggenheim have not done this, and, besides, their discussion excludes systems in which hysteresis can occur. In the remarks which follow I refer to the analogous electrostatic problem.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stoner, E. C., Phil. Mag., (7), 19, 565 (1935).
Stoner, E. C., Phil. Mag., (7), 23, 833 (1937).
Guggenheim, E. A., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 155, 49 (1936).
Guggenheim, E. A., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 155, 70 (1936).
Guggenheim, E. A., “Thermodynamics”, 361–384 (1949).
De Donder, Th., “Théorie Mathématique de l'Electricité”, 7 (1925).
Smith-White, W. B., Phil. Mag. (7), 40, 466 (1949).
Stratton, J. A., “Electromagnetic Theory”, 137–153 (1941).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SMITH-WHITE, W. Energy in Electrostatics. Nature 166, 689–690 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166689a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/166689a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Thermodynamics of a Fluid Dielectric
Nature (1951)