1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910254620003321

Autore

Lequeux James

Titolo

François Arago : A 19th Century French Humanist and Pioneer in Astrophysics / / by James Lequeux

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2016

ISBN

3-319-20723-7

Edizione

[1st ed. 2016.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (343 p.)

Collana

Astrophysics and Space Science Library, , 0067-0057 ; ; 421

Disciplina

509.2

Soggetti

Physics

Astronomy

Astrophysics

History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

The Scientific Life in France at the Time of Arago -- The Life of Arago -- The Nature of Light -- The Velocity of Light -- The Birth of Electromagnetism -- The Measurement of the Earth -- Arago and the Paris Observatory -- Arago, Astronomer -- Arago, Geophysicist and Meteorologist -- Towards Applied Physics -- The Promoter of Science and Technique -- The Heritage of Arago.

Sommario/riassunto

François Arago, the first to show in 1810 that the surface of the Sun and stars is made of incandescent gas and not solid or liquid, was a prominent physicist of the 19th century. He used his considerable influence to help Fresnel, Ampere and others develop their ideas and make themselves known. This book covers his personal contributions to physics, astronomy, geodesy and oceanography, which are far from negligible, but insufficiently known. Arago was also an important and influential political man who, for example, abolished slavery in the French colonies. One of the last humanists, he had a very broad culture and range of interests. In parallel to his biography, this title also covers the spectacular progresses of science at the time of Arago, especially in France: the birth of physical optics, electromagnetism and



thermodynamics. Francois Arago’s life is a fascinating epic tale that reads as a novel.