CLAUSIUS, R. (RUDOLF). - A MAIN PAPER ON THE KINETIC THEORY OF GASES.

Ueber die mittlere Länge der Wege, welche bei der Molecularbewegung gasförmiger Körper von den einzelnen Molecülen zurückgelegt werden; nebst einigen anderen Bemerkungen über die mechanische Wärmetheorie.

Leipzig, Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1858. Contemp. hcalf. 5 raised bands, gilt spine and gilt lettering to spine. A few scratches to spine. Small stamp on verso of first -and general- titlepage. In: "Annalen der Physik und Chemie. Hrsg. von J.C. Poggendorff", Vierte Reihe Bd. 15, (=Poggendorff Bd. 105). X,636 pp. and 4 folded lithographed plates. Clausius's paper: pp. 239-258. The entire volume offered. Fine and clean.

First printing of this main paper in the working out of the Kinetic Theory of Gases in which Clausius announced his determination of the equation governing the mean free path lenght of a molecule moving freely in gases. By this he inscribed his name as one of the founders of the Kinetic Theory of Gases.
"Clausius was one of the founders of the kinetic theory of gases and of the science of thermodynamics. He and Lord Kelvin at about the same time and independently announced the Second Law of thermodynamics. Clausius particularly developed the theory of thermodynamics by applying it to the study of gases and vapors."(Magie in "A Source Book in Physics", p. 228).

"In order to analyze the process (of molecular collisions), Clausius adopted a simplified model for his admittedly complicated molecule. He assumed that whatever the actual patterns on intermolecular forces, one could suppose that there is some advantage distance between the centers of molecules which would represent a general boundary between attractive and repulsive forces. If two molecules were to approach each other within that boundary, repulsion would generally occur. Thus the very complex problem of intermolecular action was reduced to a "billiard ball" model." (DSB III, p. 307-06). - Parkinson, Breakthroughs, C/P 1858.

Order-nr.: 43056