Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: In 1900, Lord Kelvin identified two problems for 19th century physics, two “clouds” as he puts it: the relative motion of the ether with respect to massive objects and Maxwell–Boltzmann's theorem on the equipartition of energy. These issues were eventually solved by the theory of special relativity and by quantum mechanics. In modern quotations, the content of Kelvin's lecture is almost always distorted and misrepresented. For example, it is commonly claimed that Kelvin was concerned about the UV-catastrophe of the Rayleigh-Jeans law, while his lecture actually makes no reference at all to blackbody radiation. I rectify these mistakes and explore reasons for their occurrence.
Source: American Journal of Physics
DOI: 10.1119/10.0005620
Author: Oliver Passon
Institution: University of Wuppertal
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4288073807