Matter and Motion

Scottish physicist Maxwell (1831-1879) first published this primer on dynamics in 1876. Maxwell introduces the fundamental physical knowledge of his time in chapters on motion, force, properties of the center of mass, work and energy, recapitulation, the pendulum and gravity, and universal gravitation. Also included is a chapter on equations of motions, taken from Maxwell's A Treatise of Electricity and Magnetism (1873), and two appendices treating the principle of relativity of motion and the principle of least action. As no contextual information has been added, the text will likely be of most interest to those already familiar with Maxwell's place in scientific history.