Physicist Kelvin Biography

In received the title of Lord Kelvin. Born in Belfast. He graduated from Cambridge University in - professor at the University in Glasgo in organized one of the first physical laboratories, with the president. Work relate to thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, electromagnetism, elasticity, warmth, mathematics, technique. In formulated regardless of R., according to this formulation of the second beginning of thermodynamics, the impossibility of the eternal engine of the second kind was proved by the Thomson.

However, based on the open law of thermodynamics and applying it to the Universe as a whole, he came to the erroneous conclusion about the inevitability of the “thermal death of the Universe” of the hypothesis of the thermal death of the Universe.

The illegality of this approach and the fallacy of the hypothesis proved by L. widely used the thermodynamic method to explain various physical phenomena. Introduced into the concept of absolute temperature and the absolute temperature scale, called by its name Kelvin's scale. He shook how the boiling temperature of the fluid depending on the pressure is associated with the heat of the steam formation, the volume of the fluid and the steam formed from it, installed in that the elasticity of the saturated steam depends on the shape of the surface of the liquid.

Together with J. Joule, he set in - 54 changes in gas temperature with his slow inpatient adiabatic flow through the porous partition the effect of Joule -Tomson. Using this effect is one of the main methods of obtaining low temperatures. The Thomson effect discovered into the third thermodynamic effect: if an electric current flows along the conductor along the temperature difference, then, in addition to the joule heat, in the volume of the conductor, a certain amount of heat of the Thomson heat is released or absorbed depending on the direction of the current.

He built the thermodynamic theory of thermoelectric phenomena. He worked fruitfully in the study of electric and magnetic phenomena, in particular studied the magnetic properties of crystals. He discovered the specific electrical conductivity of ferromagnetics when they are magnetized by the effect of Thomson. He designed a number of highly sensitive electrometers and galvanometers, a universal compass and other devices.

He gave the calculation of electrical vibrations in the circuit, bringing into the formula for the dependence of the period of its own oscillations in the circuit on its capacity and inductance the Thomson formula. Established a change in the resistance of metals in a magnetic field, perpendicular current. The theoretical studies of Thomson in electromagnetism and a number of his technical inventions significantly contributed to the practical implementation of telegraphic communication, in particular, in the transatlantic cable, in the paving of which he took an active part.

His studies on thermal conductivity, which he tried to use to calculate the age of the Earth, studied the problem of rotation of the Earth around the axis, came to the conclusion that sea tides and tide have an impact on this rotation. He put forward the hypothesis of the structure of atoms, performed calculations of the size of molecules, etc. A member of many academies of science and scientific lines.