julius robert mayer
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The birth of thermo-dynamics!
In the years after 1850 a developed, established science with extensive theoretical structures and satisfactory experimental verification had to be re-established on a new basis; that of the axiom of the conservation of energy. This was the first time in history that such a thing had happened. It pre-dates the famous re-establishments that followed the… Continue reading
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James Joule – how did he do it?
Poking at small effects you can’t explain can be a way of unraveling a much bigger piece of physics – Professor Carl Carlson, theoretical physicist [1] Forging a law around the concept of energy and its conservation demanded many observations, many experiences, and many measurements. The long history involved traveled through the works of the… Continue reading
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Robert Mayer wondered, why is blood redder in warm climates?
In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind – Louis Pasteur [1] The piston played a critical role in the history of thermodynamics as this device, embedded within the steam engine, transformed heat (Q) generated by a steam boiler into the work (W) required to lift buckets of water out of deep… Continue reading
Block by Block – The Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Thermodynamics. “Hanlon has written a masterpiece.” – Mike Pauken, Senior Engineer, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and author of Thermodynamics for Dummies
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About Me
Hi! I’m Bob Hanlon. After earning my Sc.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and enjoying a long career in both industry and academia, I’ve returned to school, my own self-guided school, seeking to better understand the world of thermodynamics. Please join me on my journey.
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