Newton . Faraday . Einstein: From Classical Physics to Modern Physics

188 Pages·2021·31.3 MB·English

by  Tadayoshi Shioyama

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World Scientific
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Published by
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Shioyama, Tadayoshi, author.
Title: Newton, Faraday, Einstein : from classical physics to modern physics / Tadayoshi Shioyama.
Description: New Jersey : World Scientific, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021012080 (print) | LCCN 2021012081 (ebook) |
ISBN 9789811235672 (hardcover) | ISBN 9789811236242 (paperback) |
ISBN 9789811235689 (ebook for institutions) | ISBN 9789811235696 (ebook for individuals)
Subjects: LCSH: Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. | Faraday, Michael, 1791–1867. |
Einstein, Albert, 1879–1955. | Physicists--Biography. | Physics--History.
Classification: LCC QC15 .S447 2021 (print) | LCC QC15 (ebook) | DDC 530.092/2 [B]--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021012080
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021012081
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Copyright © 2021 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
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Preface
Our current lives are a result of scientific evolution, so awareness
of the progress in scientific advances opens the doors to a new
era. This book describes the lives of three great scientists who
made remarkable discoveries—Newton, Faraday and Einstein.
By focusing on their stories, the readers will understand that
the common thread shared by them in their scientific journeys
was a genuine enthusiasm to scholarship rather than any lust
for fame or a sense of rivalry.
The progress of physics is surveyed as follows: Why is it
that celestial bodies in the universe move according to Kepler’s
laws? This problem was elucidated by Newton who explained
the motion of celestial bodies with three laws of motion as
described in “Principia”. Using Newton’s principles, the helio-
centlic theory, proposed by Copernicus and supported by
Galileo and Kepler, was shown to be correct. The mechanics
as outlined by Newton was called Newtonian mechanics that
became dominant until the end of the nineteenth century.
Electromagnetic phenomenon was researched by Faraday
who discovered the electromagnetic induction that transforms
magnetism to electricity, Faraday’s effect (magneto-optical
effect) and so forth. Furthermore, based on such experimental
results, Maxwell laid the foundation of electromagnetic theory.
Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetic theory together
cons tituted the two greatest theories in classical physics until
the end of the nineteenth century.
v
vi | Newton • Faraday • Einstein: From Classical Physics to Modern Physics
However, from the end of the nineteenth century to the
beginning of the twentieth century, some experimental results
could not be elucidated by classical physics. The experimental
results on the relation between intensity and frequency of
blackbody radiation was difficult to be resolved by classical
physics. In 1900, Planck derived Planck’s formula which strictly
adhered to the experimental results of blackbody radiation.
From physical interpretation of the formula, Planck discovered
the concept of “quantum”. In 1905, introducing the concept of
quantum, Einstein succeeded in theoretically elucidating the
phenomenon of photoelectric effect where an electron was
emitted from the metal irradiated with light. This successfully
confirmed the concept of quantum, after which quantum
mechanics was founded as an epoch-making mechanics
following Newtonian mechanics.
According to relativity principle, the velocity of light mea-
sured in any coordinate system moving at a constant velocity
(called inertial frame) should be constant always. Relativity
principle was supported by Michelson–Morley experiment in
1887. However, in classical physics, the velocity of light was
different in different inertial frames, and therefore, the exper-
imental result by Michelson–Morley could not be explained by
classical physics. In order to resolve this contradiction, Einstein
revised the concept of time-space and founded relativity theory
supporting relativity principle. Thus, Einstein contributed to
the foundation of quantum mechanics and relativity theory
which constitute the two greatest theories in modern physics.
These significant contributions to the progress of physics as
mentioned above led to this book focusing on Newton, Faraday
and Einstein. In a nutshell, Newton and Faraday contributed
to the foundation of Newtonian mechanics and electromag-
netic theory which comprise the two significant theories in
classical physics, respectively. And, Einstein contributed to the
Preface | vii
foundation of quantum mechanics and relativity theory recog-
nized as the two greatest theories in modern physics.
This book also describes other geniuses related to the three
great Scientists—Galileo who was of considerable influence on
Newton; Kepler who discovered laws of orbital motion of planets;
Euler and Lagrange who founded the analytical mechanics
which was a compromise between Newtonian mechanics and
quantum mechanics; Volta who invented electric battery which
played an important role in experiments by Faraday; Maxwell
who succeeded in theorizing electromagnetic phenomena
discovered by Faraday; Planck who proposed the concept of
quantum which led to quantum mechanics and influenced
Einstein’s research on the photoelectric effect; de Broglie who
proposed the concept of the particle-wave duality of electron;
and Schrodinger who was influenced by de Broglie’s idea and
founded quantum mechanics.
The contents of the book is a result of the lecture entitled
“History of science and technology” taught by the author at
Kyoto Institute of Technology for about 10 years until 2006.
It helps the readers understand the progress in physics from
classical to modern. Scientific knowledge and academic terms
that are useful for understanding this book have been clarified
with suitable explanations and appendices. This feature of the
book will set it apart from general biographies.
It is written with the hope that youth worldwide on whom
depends the future, will develop interest in science. The readers
are to hold on to their hopes as these great scientists had to
overcome adversities.
Acknowledgments
The author would like to show his appreciation to Professor
K. Matsuda at Faculty of Law in Rikkyo University for visiting
viii | Newton • Faraday • Einstein: From Classical Physics to Modern Physics
Faraday Museum in the Royal Institution of Great Britain and
taking pictures used in this book.
The author also thanks Dr. K. K. Phua (the editor-in-chief),
Lakshmi Narayanan (editor) and Dr. A. Nargiza (acquisition
editor), for facilitating the publication of this book. He also
appreciates other authors for the books referred to in this book.
Tadayoshi Shioyama
October 2020
In Kyoto
Contents
Preface v
Chapter 1 Isaac Newton 1
1.1 Upbringing 2
1.2 Admission into the University of Cambridge 5
1.3 Academic Development in the Continent 7
1.4 Barrow, the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics 15
1.5 Creativity during the Plague 16
1.6 Successor of Barrow 21
1.7 Principia 27
1.8 Emergency at the University 35
1.9 Life in London 37
Explanation 1.1 Kepler’s laws 9
Explanation 1.2 Law of the pendulum 13
Explanation 1.3 Law of falling bodies 14
Explanation 1.4 The principle of a telescope 20
Explanation 1.5 The photoelectric effect 25
Explanation 1.6 The three laws of motion 28
Explanation 1.7 Rigid-body mechanics 42
ix