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A Survey of Theories of Units and Dimensions in Nineteenth-Century Physics

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A History of the Ideas of Theoretical Physics

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 213))

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Abstract

Metrological theories and theories of dimensions are tightly connected with the nineteenth century history of electrodynamics. Their significance is better understood when these theories are situated in an historical perspective.

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Notes

  1. Fourier [1822].

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  2. Fourier [1822] Art. 161.

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  3. Maxwell [1954] Vol. I, Art.42.

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  4. Kelvin [1981] 104, quoted by O’Rahilly [1965] Vol. 2, 697.

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  5. Clifford [1878] 49, quoted by O’Rahilly [1965] Vol. 2, 685. O’ Rahilly’s opinion on dimensional quantities in physics is unambiguously expressed: “The mystification sets in when we begin to misinterpret these numbers as complex qualitative happenings miraculously susceptible to arithmetical operations such as raising to the forth power. It is precisely the failure to recognise the symbols of physics as ordinary numbers, which has led electricians into such a quagmire of futile and meaningless methaphysics” (O’Rahilly [1965] vol. 2). See also.Crowe [1967].

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  6. Clausius [1982].

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  7. Clausius [1982] 536.

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  8. Clausius [1982] 543, 544.

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  9. Planck [1932], Theory of Electricity and Magnetism, vol. III.

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  10. M. Loria, “Giovanni Giorgi”, in: Gillispie [1972] vol. 5, 407.

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  11. G. Giorgi, “Unità (sistemi di)” in: Enciclopedia Italiana [1937] vol. 34, 714–718, 716.

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  12. Sommerfeld [1935] (the passage was translated into English by the present author).

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  13. Sommerfeld [1964].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Università “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy

    Salvo D’Agostino

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  1. Salvo D’Agostino
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© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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D’Agostino, S. (2000). A Survey of Theories of Units and Dimensions in Nineteenth-Century Physics. In: A History of the Ideas of Theoretical Physics. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 213. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9034-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9034-6_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-0244-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-9034-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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