They nevertheless maintained a strong respect for each other's talents. 100, 'The Abbey Scientists' Hall, A.R. By the end of this section, you will be able to: Figure 1. The love of God shown by the family impressed Maxwell, particularly after he was nursed back from ill health by the minister and his wife. The young Maxwell’s studies took him first to the Edinburgh Academy (where, at the astounding age of 14, he published his first academic paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh) and later to the University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge. [2] His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. Maxwell’s complete and symmetric theory showed that electric and magnetic forces are not separate, but different manifestations of the same thing—the electromagnetic force. Nothing is to be holy ground consecrated to Stationary Faith, whether positive or negative. Light from the sun, though appearing white, contains the whole rainbow spectrum of colours. Starting in 1887, he performed a series of experiments that not only confirmed the existence of electromagnetic waves, but also verified that they travel at the speed of light. Maxwell's equations represent one of the most elegant and concise ways to state the fundamentals of electricity and magnetism. Thomas Sutton, inventor of the single-lens reflex camera, took the picture. James Clerk Maxwell and Katherine Mary Dewar marriage certificate, Family History Library film #280176, district 168/2 (Old Machar, Aberdeen), page 83, certificate No. In fact, Maxwell concluded that light is an electromagnetic wave having such wavelengths that it can be detected by the eye. Now my great plan, which was conceived of old, ... is to let nothing be wilfully left unexamined. The Old Testament and the Mosaic Law and Judaism are commonly supposed to be "Tabooed" by the orthodox. [68], In 1860 Marischal College merged with the neighbouring King's College to form the University of Aberdeen. The more lines in the pattern, the stronger the electric field in that region, magnetic field lines: a pattern of continuous, imaginary lines that emerge from and enter into opposite magnetic poles. A tiny imaginary 'demon' at a trapdoor would control the flow of molecules between them, producing a perpetual energy source. This third of Maxwell’s equations is Faraday’s law of induction, and includes Lenz’s law. The work, [12][32] of 1846, "On the description of oval curves and those having a plurality of foci" [33] was presented to the Royal Society of Edinburgh by James Forbes, a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh,[12][32] because Maxwell was deemed too young to present the work himself. When the top was spun fast, it was possible to see what looked like the motion of waves. Figure 2. [35] He had the opportunity to attend the University of Cambridge, but decided, after his first term, to complete the full course of his undergraduate studies at Edinburgh. Maxwell is best known for his research in electromagnetic radiation, which unites the sciences of electricity, magnetism and optics. In his paper 'On governors' (1868) he mathematically described the behaviour of governors, devices that control the speed of steam engines, thereby establishing the theoretical basis of control engineering. James' father took him to Robert Davidson's demonstration of electric propulsion and magnetic force on February 12, 1842, an experience with profound implications for the boy. Maxwell is best known for his research in electromagnetic radiation, which unites the sciences of electricity, magnetism and optics. [98], Maxwell had studied and commented on electricity and magnetism as early as 1855 when his paper "On Faraday's lines of force" was read to the Cambridge Philosophical Society. [86][87] His collected works were issued in two volumes by the Cambridge University Press in 1890. [65] Through him Maxwell met Dewar's daughter, Katherine Mary Dewar.