William Gilbert, and Terrestial Magnetism in the Time of Queen Elizabeth : A Discourse

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thompson, Silvanus P. (Silvanus Phillips), 1851-1916.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"William Gilbert, and Terrestrial Magnetism in the Time of Queen Elizabeth" by Silvanus P. Thompson is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book delves into the life and work of William Gilbert, an influential figure in the realm of magnetism and electricity during the late 16th century when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. It offers an understanding of Gilbert's significant contributions to the field of terrestrial magnetism, especially his groundbreaking treatise, "De Magnete". In this discourse, Thompson outlines William Gilbert's life, noting his education, professional achievements, and his established role in the Royal College of Physicians. The text discusses Gilbert's experiments and theories surrounding the behavior of magnets, the use of the compass in navigation, and the foundational principles he laid for the field of Earth sciences. The narrative illustrates Gilbert's scientific method and the way he challenged existing beliefs concerning magnetism, ultimately leading to a more robust understanding of Earth's magnetic properties. Thompson honors Gilbert's legacy as a pivotal figure in the shift from traditional, speculative science to a more empirical and experimental approach that would shape future scientific inquiry. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Chris Curnow, Charlie Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 52.2 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2014-06-05