What's nu? Maxwell's electrical metrology and the electromagnetic theory of light reappraised

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• Daniel Mitchell (Department of History and Philosophy of Science)
• Wednesday 04 May 2016, 13:00-14:30
• Seminar Room 2, Department of History and Philosophy of Science.

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Maxwell’s derivation of an equality between the speed of wave propagation c in a hypothetical electromagnetic medium and the ratio of electrostatic and electromagnetic units of electrical quantity ν was historically his most important argument for the electromagnetic theory of light. He argued that it provided strong grounds for believing that light was an electromagnetic wave and the optical and electromagnetic ether were two different names for the same thing. Acceptance of this identity, Maxwell knew, substantiated his field-theoretic approach to electricity and magnetism at the expense of Continental action-at-a-distance theories. This study begins by problematizing the equality between ν, ostensibly a numerical ratio, and c, a canonical physical quantity. We are thereby drawn into a critical examination of the evolution of Maxwell’s practices of representing physical quantities, units, and their dimensions, with the expectation of shedding light on the nature of physical constants, units, and dimensions in modern scientific practice.

This talk is part of the CamPoS (Cambridge Philosophy of Science) seminar series.

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