Elements of materials science

BOOK NOTES THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ISAAC NEWTON. VOLUME I, 1661--1675, edited by H. W. Turnbull. 468 pages, plates, illustrations, 8 X 11 in. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1959. Price, $25.00. The present work represents the culmination of over fifty years of hoping and planning for a standard critical edition of Newton's collected writings. The first few a t t e m p t s were not productive; but since the Newton Letters Committee of the Royal Society was reconstructed under the chairmanship of Prof. E. N. da C. Andrade in 1947, the work has been progressing steadily. Volume I appeared late in 1959 and it is hoped t h a t by 1960--the 300th anniversary of the Royal Society--ot her volumes will be available. This first volume contains 156 manuscripts and letters written during the period 1661 through February 1676, covering not only Newton's own writings, but others relative to his correspondence. The excellent "Introduction" by" Prof. Andrade reveals the scope of the undertaking and the difficulties and problems relevant to the publication of the work. in the "Preface," Prof. Turnbull calls attention to the contents, the arrangement and selection of material, and several previously unpublished items. The book is beautifully printed and bound. The index to Vol. I is well arranged and quite complete. The high standards set by Vol. I indicate that the complete work will be a major contribution to modern scholarship and the history of science. When completed, the long-needed, definitive series will be a most welcome addition to the reference libraries of the world. SCIENCE & STATE GOVERNMENT, by Frederic N. Cleaveland. 161 pages, diagrams, 5[ X 8½ in. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1959. Price, $3.50. In 1954, the National Science Foundation authorized a study of the role of state governments in scientific activities, to be carried out by the Institute for Research in Social Studies at the University of North Carolina. This

small volume reports oll six states representing diversity in population, economic characteristics, size, geographic location and political environment. Expenditures of public funds are analyzed in four major fields--agriculture, resources and public works, health and welfare, and higher education. Also described are the administrative aspects of these programs, intergovernmental relations, and the scientists' place in the state. A final chapter on " S u m m a r y and Conclusions" sums up the findings and points out the similarities. It is interesting to note that in four of the six states, agriculture claimed the highest portion of state funds and was second highest in the other two states. TRANSFORMERS FOR TttE ELECTRIC PowEn INDUSTRY, by Richard L. Bean, Nicholas Chackan, Jr., Harold R. Moore and Edward C. Wentz. 409 pages, illustrations, 6 X 9 in. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1959. Price, $12.50. The authors, all of the Transformer Engineering Department at Westinghouse, have prepared a practical manual on transformer design, construction, application, operation and maintenance. In addition to the standard material (equations, tables, empirical data), the book contains new material on the economics of transformers, the latest advances in methods of temperature calculation, and new testing techniques. Chapters 3 through 8 emphasize theory; Chapters 9 through 14 are of more interest to engineers who operate the transformers. ELEMENTS OF MATERIALS SCIENCE, by Lawfence H. Van Vlack. 528 pages, illustrations, 6 X 9 in. Reading (Mass.), Addison Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., 1959. Price,

$8.75. This is an elementary text for sophomore and junior students of engineering, covering structure of metallic and nonmetallic materials. It aims to give a background for subsequent engineering desig~t and analysis courses. A knowledge of introductory college mathematics is assumed. I5I