Sir Isaac Newton
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Standing on the Shoulders of Mentors: Sadi Carnot’s Inspired Science
It’s tempting to romanticize the image of 28-year-old Sadi Carnot, deep in thought in his candle-lit Parisian apartment, crafting the pamphlet that would pioneer thermodynamics. However, it’s crucial not to oversimplify his achievements by assuming he developed his ideas in isolation. Understanding the context is vital to appreciating the full significance of Carnot’s work. Standing… Continue reading
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Newton: the apple, the moon, and universal gravitation
Did you know the moon is in constant freefall towards Earth? Here’s how Sir Isaac Newton figured this out and discovered Universal Gravitation in the process. The apple’s role Action-at-a-distance. His contemporaries thought it impossible. Not so Newton. He embraced the concept. The falling apple, the orbiting moon, perhaps governed by the same, unseen force? … Continue reading
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About Me
![](https://robertthanlon.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/blockbyblock.png?w=150)
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.