Background
Arthur Gordon Webster was born in Brookline, Massachussets, the only son of William Edward and Mary Shannon (Davis) Webster. He was a descendant of John Webster who settled in Ipswich, Massachussets, in 1635.
(The theoretical writings of Hertz, Heaviside, Cohn and ot...)
The theoretical writings of Hertz, Heaviside, Cohn and others have resulted in the systematization of Maxwell stheory and have made possible improvements in the mode of its presentation and nomenclature not contemplated by him. The extremely important and original contributions of Mr Oliver Heaviside are unfortunately but little adapted to the use of the student on account of their very voluminous character as a whole, as well as of an extreme conciseness of expression in individual parts. The few brilliant chapters on theoretical matters left by Hertz are hardly by way of exposition, but rather of a summing up of the conclusions of the theory. It has been my aim in the preparation of this volume to present to the student the results of the theory as it stands today after the labors ofF araday, Maxwell, Helmholtz, Hertz and Heaviside. Here it may be convenient to state what I consider to be the essentials of Maxwell stheory as distinguished from the old theories. To this question may very well be made the answer of Hertz: Maxwell stheory isM axwell ssystem of equations. But to specify more fully the points of difference, they are in the opinion of the writer: 1. The localization of the energy in the medium. 2. The magnetic action of displacement currents. While starting from the standpoint of Energy, I have not thought it advisable to abolish the usual terms repugnant to so many writers, who assuming the attitude of Maxwellians par excellence, deny the existence of Electricity. Maxwell himself was not one of these. (Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.) About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology. Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. C
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(A classic treatise on partial differential equations, thi...)
A classic treatise on partial differential equations, this comprehensive work by one of America's greatest early mathematical physicists covers the basic method, theory, and application of partial differential equations. In addition to its value as an introductory and supplementary text for students, this volume constitutes a fine reference for mathematicians, physicists, and research engineers. Detailed coverage includes Fourier series; integral and elliptic equations; spherical, cylindrical, and ellipsoidal harmonics; Cauchy's method; boundary problems; the Riemann-Volterra method; and many other basic topics. The self-contained treatment fully develops the theory and application of partial differential equations to virtually every relevant field: vibration, elasticity, potential theory, the theory of sound, wave propagation, heat conduction, and many more. A helpful Appendix provides background on Jacobians, double limits, uniform convergence, definite integrals, complex variables, and linear differential equations.
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(Originally published in 1897. This volume from the Cornel...)
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Arthur Gordon Webster was born in Brookline, Massachussets, the only son of William Edward and Mary Shannon (Davis) Webster. He was a descendant of John Webster who settled in Ipswich, Massachussets, in 1635.
He prepared for college at the high school in Newton, Massachussets In 1881 he entered Harvard University, from which he graduated with honors in 1885. In college he showed remarkable linguistic talent, but then and later regarded his study of languages as a diversion, demanding little mental exertion, from his favorite studies of mathematics and physics, which upon occasion he would admit make rather severe demands upon the intellect. After serving one year as instructor in mathematics at Harvard, he went abroad in 1886 for advanced study at the University of Berlin. Four years later he received the degree of Ph. D. from this university, his dissertation, Versuche über eine Methode zur Bestimmung des Verhältnisses der elektromagnetischen zur elektrostatischen Einheit der Elektricitet (1890), presenting the results of an experimental investigation directed by the great experimentalist, Prof. August Kundt. He was the recipient of various honorary degrees, and was a member of many learned societies both in America and abroad.
Returning to America in 1890, Webster accepted a position as docent in physics at Clark University, Worcester, Massachussets, under Prof. Albert Abraham Michelson, whom he succeeded as head of the department in 1892. His position at Clark University, at that time a strictly graduate school, afforded him the opportunity to develop a systematic and comprehensive course of lectures on mathematical physics which was unsurpassed in scope and thoroughness by any corresponding course offered elsewhere. He soon acquired a mastery of the art of lucid exposition in his lectures which, with an intuitive appreciation of the difficulties of his students, qualified him as an exceptionally good teacher. In effect, he occupied two distinct positions at Clark University - professor of mathematical physics and professor of experimental physics. As a leader in both subjects he was the inspiration of small groups of devoted students who came to him from year to year from America and abroad. In the period from 1890 to 1917 his own scientific activities in mathematical physics were, apart from his lectures, chiefly concerned with expository writing on this subject, the major products of which were two excellent treatises: The Theory of Electricity and Magnetism (1897), and The Dynamics of Particles and of Rigid, Elastic and Fluid Bodies (1904). Many of his scientific colleagues, while fully recognizing the high merits of his expository writings, were prone to regret that his intense devotion to this phase of his activities should effectively preclude the application of his remarkable mental powers toward the solution of the various outstanding problems of theoretical physics. His activities in experimental physics during this period had mainly to do with the development of various gyroscopic instruments, and with sound investigations, one important product of which was a remarkable instrument for the absolute measurement of the intensity of sound. Throughout this period he was a frequent contributor to scientific magazines of articles dealing with topics that interested him in mechanics, sound, and electricity. In 1917 Webster was appointed a member of the United States Naval Consulting Board. As his contribution to war work he established a school of ballistics at Clark University, and with his assistants undertook the solution of various important ballistic problems. It was a matter of deep regret to him that he was not assigned to war service abroad, as he felt that his extensive knowledge of foreign languages specially qualified him for such service. After the war he continued his work on ballistics and sound, and on a comprehensive treatise entitled The Partial Differential Equations of Mathematical Physics. The book was nearly completed at the time of his death in 1923, and was published in 1927 under the editorship of Dr. S. J. Plimpton. Many honors came to Webster in the course of his career. In 1903 he was elected the third president of the American Physical Society, which he had been instrumental in founding in 1899. He ended his own life on the morning of May 15, 1923.
(The theoretical writings of Hertz, Heaviside, Cohn and ot...)
(A classic treatise on partial differential equations, thi...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
(This book was digitized and reprinted from the collection...)
(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
(Originally published in 1897. This volume from the Cornel...)
Quotations:
"Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day. "
"No one lives on the top of the mountain. It's fine to go there occasionally -for inspiration, for new perspectives. But you have to come down. Life is lived in the valleys. That's where the farms and gardens and orchards are, and where the plowing and the work is done. That's where you apply the visions you may have glimpsed from the peaks. "
"It takes courage to care for others, because people who care run the risk of being hurt. It's not easy to let your guard down, open your heart, react with sympathy or compassion or indignation or enthusiasm when usually it's much easier-and sometimes much safer-not to get involved. People who take the risk make a tremendous discovery: The more things you care about, and the more intensely you care, the more alive you are. "
"Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. In the past, whenever I had fallen short in almost any undertaking, it was seldom because I had tried and failed. It was because I had let fear of failure stop me from trying at all. "
"Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them, day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and redecided tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you. "
Webster was distinguished by a singularly imposing personality. His frank expressions of his views, often in satirical or humorous vein, were invariably interesting and pertinent. He wrote numerous articles presenting popular expositions of scientific subjects or setting forth in trenchant style his opinions on matters of general public interest. In speaking or writing, his use of the English language was impeccable. In the latter years of his life he was subject more and more to moods of depression, so intense at times as to be actually pathological.
He married Elizabeth Munroe (Townsend) Webster of Syracuse, N. Y. on October 8, 1889. They had a son and two daughters.