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Mathematics of modern engineering, volume I
822
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
The book contains a glossary, the value of which cannot be over-estimated, especially to those readers not familiar with and not wishing to take the time to recall the meaning of the various terms and names. A subject index of unusual clarity makes for usefulness as reference. No special prerequisites are necessary to get the fullest enjoyment from this work. Mr. Stokley, an unquestioned authority, has an unsurpassed knack of presentation in everyday language of a most interesting science. The result is a book t h a t broadens knowledge through an easy path, thereby creating a better appreciation of the beauties of the heavens, and encouraging the search for truth. R. H. 0PPERMANN. FUN WITH ELECTRICITY, by A. Frederick Collins, F.R.A.S. 238 pages, illustrations, I3 >( I9.5 cms. New York and London, D. Appleton-Century Co., Inc., 1936. Price $2.00. This book is a " f i n d " for the amateur experimenter and hobbyist who desires to obtain enjoyment by constructing the apparatus and observing the mystifying phenomena of electricity. It is divided into three parts, direct currents, alternating currents and high frequency currents. Careful description is given for each kind of apparatus to be built and each may be constructed very cheaply. Some of the spectacular experiments explained are: an incandescent lamp which is submerged in a glass of water and which lights up to brilliancy without any connecting wires; an aluminum ring t h a t is thrown several feet into the air by a magnet instead of being attracted to it; a metal disc, some mercury in a glass, and a metal ball, any one of which will rotate when it is placed over the pole of a magnet; boiling water and frying an egg by the heat of electromagnetic induction etc. The author suggests t h a t the performance of these experiments may provide much enjoyment for an audience. Aside from the purely enjoyable aspects of doing these things the experimenter will gain a valuable knowledge of electricity and magnetism. R. H. OPPERMANN. MATHEMATICS OF MODERN ENGINEERING, Volume I, by Robert E. Doherty and Ernest G. Keller. 314 pages, illustrations, tables, 15 X 23.5 cms. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd., I936. Price $3.50. With the progress of the sciences and engineering in recent years, the use of mathematics has greatly increased. This has served to emphasize the mathematical bond t h a t exists between the sciences. In engineering, mathematics is an essential adjunct to the scientific method: in clarifying thinking, correlating and interpreting data, aiding discovery, setting forth analogies, and expressing scientific results in a usable form. Necessarily then, in the educational process, mathematics must be given special place and special attention. To those undergraduate students in colleges who are interested in the higher levels of engineering service, this book is intended especially, although graduates may and, no doubt, often will find it of much value particularly from the viewpoint of how to use mathematics in engineering. The book is the first volume of a two volume set. The only knowledge presupposed for understanding it is the calculus. There are four chapters: mathematical formulation of engineering problems; basic engineering mathe-
June, 1936. ]
I_300K R E V I E W S .
82 3
matics; vector analysis; Heaviside's operational calculus. The structure of the book is such that its approach is from the engineering side, rather than the m a t h e m a t i c i a n ' s - - h o w to reduce the phenomena under observation to mathematical equations, and then how to solve them. The former is something t h a t a large number of practicing engineers have great difficulty in accomplishing, and is one of the greatest needs. The scope of the book includes practical engineering work dealing with electrical and mechanical problems. Throughout the text exercises illustrate a great variety and their answers appear in the back. One of the most noteworthy features are the summaries of the various processes and methods treated upon, appearing where necessary at the end of sections of the book. These summaries are very similar to notes of an abstract nature t h a t all students are inclined to make while studying. Their value, therefore, can readily be appreciated. A bibliography is appended, classified by subject, giving references to additional and related material of the text. The engineer desiring to study a subject t h a t will aid him greatly in the solution of his problems will do well to peruse this work. R. H. OPPERMANN. THE STRUCTURE OF METALS AND ALLOYS, by William Hume-Rothery, M.A., D.Sc. 12o pages, illustrations, 14 X 22 cms. London, Institute of Metals, 1936. Price 3s.6d. This I2O page monograph is the first of a series to be made by the Institute of Metals. The author needs no introduction to those familiar with the subject and his work here presented, to say t h e least, is unusual and noteworthy. I t is a work which summarizes certain selected subjects under this heading which throw light on the fundamental principles. These include the electronic background of metallurgy, the crystal structure of the elements, atomic radii of the elements, primary metallic solid solutions, intermediate phases in alloy systems, and imperfections in crystals. Necessarily the book is illustrated appropriately, but on reading through one is impressed with the masterly co6rdination of the text with the illustrations, their arrangement and structure. For instance, in the chapter on the crystal structure of the elements the diagrams and descriptive m a t t e r are so interwoven with consequent clarity t h a t the reader receives an impression not easily forgotten. References indicated throughout the text and noted at the end of each chapter constitute a good bibliography of each subject treated. Other features t h a t should make for wide circulation of the book are; no higher mathematics is contained in it, no use is made of crystallographic notations, wave mechanical theory is merely mentioned and passed by, and thermodynamics are not even referred to. The book can benefit a large number of scientific men, of widely diversified interests. R. H. OPPERMANN. SOLUBILITY OF NoN-ELECTROLYTES, by Joel H. Hildebrand, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, University of California. 203 pages, illustrations, 15. 5 X 23 cm. American Chemical Society Monograph No. 17, 2d Edition. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corp., I936. Price $4.50. Since " S o l u b i l i t y " was published in 1924 theoretical and experimental contributions of Debye and others have so advanced our knowledge of electrolytes
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
The book contains a glossary, the value of which cannot be over-estimated, especially to those readers not familiar with and not wishing to take the time to recall the meaning of the various terms and names. A subject index of unusual clarity makes for usefulness as reference. No special prerequisites are necessary to get the fullest enjoyment from this work. Mr. Stokley, an unquestioned authority, has an unsurpassed knack of presentation in everyday language of a most interesting science. The result is a book t h a t broadens knowledge through an easy path, thereby creating a better appreciation of the beauties of the heavens, and encouraging the search for truth. R. H. 0PPERMANN. FUN WITH ELECTRICITY, by A. Frederick Collins, F.R.A.S. 238 pages, illustrations, I3 >( I9.5 cms. New York and London, D. Appleton-Century Co., Inc., 1936. Price $2.00. This book is a " f i n d " for the amateur experimenter and hobbyist who desires to obtain enjoyment by constructing the apparatus and observing the mystifying phenomena of electricity. It is divided into three parts, direct currents, alternating currents and high frequency currents. Careful description is given for each kind of apparatus to be built and each may be constructed very cheaply. Some of the spectacular experiments explained are: an incandescent lamp which is submerged in a glass of water and which lights up to brilliancy without any connecting wires; an aluminum ring t h a t is thrown several feet into the air by a magnet instead of being attracted to it; a metal disc, some mercury in a glass, and a metal ball, any one of which will rotate when it is placed over the pole of a magnet; boiling water and frying an egg by the heat of electromagnetic induction etc. The author suggests t h a t the performance of these experiments may provide much enjoyment for an audience. Aside from the purely enjoyable aspects of doing these things the experimenter will gain a valuable knowledge of electricity and magnetism. R. H. OPPERMANN. MATHEMATICS OF MODERN ENGINEERING, Volume I, by Robert E. Doherty and Ernest G. Keller. 314 pages, illustrations, tables, 15 X 23.5 cms. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd., I936. Price $3.50. With the progress of the sciences and engineering in recent years, the use of mathematics has greatly increased. This has served to emphasize the mathematical bond t h a t exists between the sciences. In engineering, mathematics is an essential adjunct to the scientific method: in clarifying thinking, correlating and interpreting data, aiding discovery, setting forth analogies, and expressing scientific results in a usable form. Necessarily then, in the educational process, mathematics must be given special place and special attention. To those undergraduate students in colleges who are interested in the higher levels of engineering service, this book is intended especially, although graduates may and, no doubt, often will find it of much value particularly from the viewpoint of how to use mathematics in engineering. The book is the first volume of a two volume set. The only knowledge presupposed for understanding it is the calculus. There are four chapters: mathematical formulation of engineering problems; basic engineering mathe-
June, 1936. ]
I_300K R E V I E W S .
82 3
matics; vector analysis; Heaviside's operational calculus. The structure of the book is such that its approach is from the engineering side, rather than the m a t h e m a t i c i a n ' s - - h o w to reduce the phenomena under observation to mathematical equations, and then how to solve them. The former is something t h a t a large number of practicing engineers have great difficulty in accomplishing, and is one of the greatest needs. The scope of the book includes practical engineering work dealing with electrical and mechanical problems. Throughout the text exercises illustrate a great variety and their answers appear in the back. One of the most noteworthy features are the summaries of the various processes and methods treated upon, appearing where necessary at the end of sections of the book. These summaries are very similar to notes of an abstract nature t h a t all students are inclined to make while studying. Their value, therefore, can readily be appreciated. A bibliography is appended, classified by subject, giving references to additional and related material of the text. The engineer desiring to study a subject t h a t will aid him greatly in the solution of his problems will do well to peruse this work. R. H. OPPERMANN. THE STRUCTURE OF METALS AND ALLOYS, by William Hume-Rothery, M.A., D.Sc. 12o pages, illustrations, 14 X 22 cms. London, Institute of Metals, 1936. Price 3s.6d. This I2O page monograph is the first of a series to be made by the Institute of Metals. The author needs no introduction to those familiar with the subject and his work here presented, to say t h e least, is unusual and noteworthy. I t is a work which summarizes certain selected subjects under this heading which throw light on the fundamental principles. These include the electronic background of metallurgy, the crystal structure of the elements, atomic radii of the elements, primary metallic solid solutions, intermediate phases in alloy systems, and imperfections in crystals. Necessarily the book is illustrated appropriately, but on reading through one is impressed with the masterly co6rdination of the text with the illustrations, their arrangement and structure. For instance, in the chapter on the crystal structure of the elements the diagrams and descriptive m a t t e r are so interwoven with consequent clarity t h a t the reader receives an impression not easily forgotten. References indicated throughout the text and noted at the end of each chapter constitute a good bibliography of each subject treated. Other features t h a t should make for wide circulation of the book are; no higher mathematics is contained in it, no use is made of crystallographic notations, wave mechanical theory is merely mentioned and passed by, and thermodynamics are not even referred to. The book can benefit a large number of scientific men, of widely diversified interests. R. H. OPPERMANN. SOLUBILITY OF NoN-ELECTROLYTES, by Joel H. Hildebrand, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, University of California. 203 pages, illustrations, 15. 5 X 23 cm. American Chemical Society Monograph No. 17, 2d Edition. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corp., I936. Price $4.50. Since " S o l u b i l i t y " was published in 1924 theoretical and experimental contributions of Debye and others have so advanced our knowledge of electrolytes