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A treatise on heat (including kinetic theory of gases, thermodynamics and recent advances in statistical thermodynamics)
308
BOOK
REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
Newcomen Society for the Study of the History of Engineering and Technology. Extra Publication no. 3: Aeronautical and Miscellaneous Note-Book (ca. 1799-1826) of Sir George Cayley. 1933. Photograms of the Year 1936. The Annual Review of the World’s Pictorial Photographic Work. Edited by F. J. Mortimer. No date. 1935. Sugar Reference Book and Directory. WIEN, W., AND F. HARMS. Handbuch der Experimentalphysik. Band II, 2 Teil. 1935.
BOOK
REVIEWS.
I 18 pages, DIE UNWANDLUNGENDER CHEMISCHENELEMENTE,von Arthur Haas. illustrations, tables, 15 X 23.5 ems. Berlin und Leipzig, Walter de Gruyter & Company, 1935. Developments from pure research in recent years have revealed much new knowledge. It is a matter of fact that the extent of this new knowledge creates a need of those not immediately associated with pure research to a means of availing themselves of opportunity to become familiar with what may revolutionize basic physics and chemistry. To fill such a need is the purpose of this booklet. It consists of a series of five lectures in understandable form aimed at those The booklet divisions are: (I) readers generally familiar with modern physics. Die Materialisation des Lichtes, (2) Die Grundstoffartep, (3) Die Mittel der Atomzertriimmerung, (4) Die Ergebnisse der Atomzertrtimmerung and (5) Die kiinstliche RadioaktivitPt. Particular mention should The booklet is well illustrated and well written. be directed to the back where can be found reference notes from each lecture. These should assist the reader materially in grasping the subject. R. H. OPPERMANN. A TREATISE ON HEAT (IKCLUDINGKINETIC THEORY OF GASES, THERMODYNAMICS AND RECENT ADVANCES IN STATISTICAL THERMODYNAMICS), second and revised edition of A Text Book on Heat, by M. N. Saha. 815 pages, plates, tables, 17 X 25 ems. Allahabad and Calcutta, The Indian Press, Ltd., 1935. This is the second and revised edition of the author’s Text Book of Heat. Those who are familiar with the first edition can best visualize the detailed comRevisions have been made in incorpleteness and clarity of the treatment. porating new results as far as practicable, in changing and making more clearer presentations, and in presenting new material. To those who have not had the opportunity of becoming familiar with the first edition it can be said that the present volume contains a remarkably thorough advanced course in the subject. The authors are men of wide experience in teaching and in research and, as will be seen on examination of this book, most successful expositors of the subject. There are nineteen chapters to the book covering some 728 pages and appendices containing notes illuminating and further explaining data referred to in the text. Roughly, it may be divided into two parts. The first part begins with thermometry and calorimetry, gases, the production of low temperatures which gives an account of the recent methods of approaching the absolute zero, to a
Feb.,
1936.1
BOOK
REVIEWS.
309
chapter on the theory of heat engines. This chapter can be taken as the beginning of the second part of the book-thermodynamics. Similar to the first part of the book, this part starts where elementary studies on the subject end and covers steam engines, internal combustion engines, and steam turbines. From here the reader is taken through the laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamical equilibria, statistical thermodynamics and dissociation equilibria. In relation to the treatment on dissociation equilibria, the authors state that use has been made of investigations on molecular spectra, this being unavoidable. They feel that in the future, all advanced books on Heat must make increasing use of knowledge of The last chapter is devoted to new molecules derived from spectroscopic data. Here a full account is given of B.E.- and methods in statistical thermodynamics. F.D.-statistics. One of the notes in the appendix above referred to incorporates the application of wave-mechanics to thermodynamics and includes a sketch of Dirac’s proof that thermodynamical assemblies would obey either the B.E.- or the F.D.-statistics. The book has been prepared with great care. Its construction is such as to pass in logical sequence from one topic to another as much as is possible. The prerequisites for its most efficient use are college physics and mathematics. AS a text for an advanced course and as a reference and information book for research workers in physics, physical chemistry, and astrophysics, it is highly recommended. R. H. OPPERMANN. BIOLOGY FOR EVERYMAN, by J. Arthur Thomson, M.A., LL.D., Regius Prof. of Vols. I and z, illustrations, 13 X 20.5 Natural History, Aberdeen, 1899-1930. ems. New York, E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1935. Price $5.00 complete. Two books such as these two volumes are a monument to the scholarly life of a great man. The wealth of information that they contain for the lay reader, the abundant illustrations all testify to a splendid purpose of the author and the late Mr. J. M. Dent, namely to make the world of biological science available for Everyman. The first volume leads the reader through the beginning of life up to the gorilla. The second book deals with animal life in general. Book III the plant world and book IV Man. The last three books make up the second volume. A great deal of credit is of course due to the editor, E. J. Holmyard, M.A., M.Sc., D.Litt., F.I.C. Considering the material to be covered and the many illustrations to be shown, the close set type and crowded format are justified if we bear in mind the use through the pub!ic libraries to which these two volumes will be put. They are grand books for the boy who is in the blotter stage of intellectual development. The chances are that “dad” will borrow them for a little belated reading on his own. H. W. ELKINTON. THE ERUPTION OF MT. PELEE, 1929-1932, by Frank A. Perrett. 126 pages, Carnegie Institution illustrations and chart, 23 X 29.3 cm% Washington, of Washington, 1935. Ever since the sunsets of the summer of 1902 Martinique and particularly The terrific explosion Mt. Pelee have been an object of my wonder and curiosity. May the 8th not only destroyed the town of St. Pierre, the people therein, and the
BOOK
REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
Newcomen Society for the Study of the History of Engineering and Technology. Extra Publication no. 3: Aeronautical and Miscellaneous Note-Book (ca. 1799-1826) of Sir George Cayley. 1933. Photograms of the Year 1936. The Annual Review of the World’s Pictorial Photographic Work. Edited by F. J. Mortimer. No date. 1935. Sugar Reference Book and Directory. WIEN, W., AND F. HARMS. Handbuch der Experimentalphysik. Band II, 2 Teil. 1935.
BOOK
REVIEWS.
I 18 pages, DIE UNWANDLUNGENDER CHEMISCHENELEMENTE,von Arthur Haas. illustrations, tables, 15 X 23.5 ems. Berlin und Leipzig, Walter de Gruyter & Company, 1935. Developments from pure research in recent years have revealed much new knowledge. It is a matter of fact that the extent of this new knowledge creates a need of those not immediately associated with pure research to a means of availing themselves of opportunity to become familiar with what may revolutionize basic physics and chemistry. To fill such a need is the purpose of this booklet. It consists of a series of five lectures in understandable form aimed at those The booklet divisions are: (I) readers generally familiar with modern physics. Die Materialisation des Lichtes, (2) Die Grundstoffartep, (3) Die Mittel der Atomzertriimmerung, (4) Die Ergebnisse der Atomzertrtimmerung and (5) Die kiinstliche RadioaktivitPt. Particular mention should The booklet is well illustrated and well written. be directed to the back where can be found reference notes from each lecture. These should assist the reader materially in grasping the subject. R. H. OPPERMANN. A TREATISE ON HEAT (IKCLUDINGKINETIC THEORY OF GASES, THERMODYNAMICS AND RECENT ADVANCES IN STATISTICAL THERMODYNAMICS), second and revised edition of A Text Book on Heat, by M. N. Saha. 815 pages, plates, tables, 17 X 25 ems. Allahabad and Calcutta, The Indian Press, Ltd., 1935. This is the second and revised edition of the author’s Text Book of Heat. Those who are familiar with the first edition can best visualize the detailed comRevisions have been made in incorpleteness and clarity of the treatment. porating new results as far as practicable, in changing and making more clearer presentations, and in presenting new material. To those who have not had the opportunity of becoming familiar with the first edition it can be said that the present volume contains a remarkably thorough advanced course in the subject. The authors are men of wide experience in teaching and in research and, as will be seen on examination of this book, most successful expositors of the subject. There are nineteen chapters to the book covering some 728 pages and appendices containing notes illuminating and further explaining data referred to in the text. Roughly, it may be divided into two parts. The first part begins with thermometry and calorimetry, gases, the production of low temperatures which gives an account of the recent methods of approaching the absolute zero, to a
Feb.,
1936.1
BOOK
REVIEWS.
309
chapter on the theory of heat engines. This chapter can be taken as the beginning of the second part of the book-thermodynamics. Similar to the first part of the book, this part starts where elementary studies on the subject end and covers steam engines, internal combustion engines, and steam turbines. From here the reader is taken through the laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamical equilibria, statistical thermodynamics and dissociation equilibria. In relation to the treatment on dissociation equilibria, the authors state that use has been made of investigations on molecular spectra, this being unavoidable. They feel that in the future, all advanced books on Heat must make increasing use of knowledge of The last chapter is devoted to new molecules derived from spectroscopic data. Here a full account is given of B.E.- and methods in statistical thermodynamics. F.D.-statistics. One of the notes in the appendix above referred to incorporates the application of wave-mechanics to thermodynamics and includes a sketch of Dirac’s proof that thermodynamical assemblies would obey either the B.E.- or the F.D.-statistics. The book has been prepared with great care. Its construction is such as to pass in logical sequence from one topic to another as much as is possible. The prerequisites for its most efficient use are college physics and mathematics. AS a text for an advanced course and as a reference and information book for research workers in physics, physical chemistry, and astrophysics, it is highly recommended. R. H. OPPERMANN. BIOLOGY FOR EVERYMAN, by J. Arthur Thomson, M.A., LL.D., Regius Prof. of Vols. I and z, illustrations, 13 X 20.5 Natural History, Aberdeen, 1899-1930. ems. New York, E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1935. Price $5.00 complete. Two books such as these two volumes are a monument to the scholarly life of a great man. The wealth of information that they contain for the lay reader, the abundant illustrations all testify to a splendid purpose of the author and the late Mr. J. M. Dent, namely to make the world of biological science available for Everyman. The first volume leads the reader through the beginning of life up to the gorilla. The second book deals with animal life in general. Book III the plant world and book IV Man. The last three books make up the second volume. A great deal of credit is of course due to the editor, E. J. Holmyard, M.A., M.Sc., D.Litt., F.I.C. Considering the material to be covered and the many illustrations to be shown, the close set type and crowded format are justified if we bear in mind the use through the pub!ic libraries to which these two volumes will be put. They are grand books for the boy who is in the blotter stage of intellectual development. The chances are that “dad” will borrow them for a little belated reading on his own. H. W. ELKINTON. THE ERUPTION OF MT. PELEE, 1929-1932, by Frank A. Perrett. 126 pages, Carnegie Institution illustrations and chart, 23 X 29.3 cm% Washington, of Washington, 1935. Ever since the sunsets of the summer of 1902 Martinique and particularly The terrific explosion Mt. Pelee have been an object of my wonder and curiosity. May the 8th not only destroyed the town of St. Pierre, the people therein, and the