“On the Diamagnetic Force.” [Pp. 24–28 in:] The American Journal of Science and Arts. Second Series, No. 55—January, 1855.

John Tyndall on the Diamagnetic Force, 1855

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Likely the first American journal appearance of John Tyndall’s important paper on diamagnetism, a field of study that shaped mid-19th century physics.

In this 1855 essay, Tyndall investigates the behavior of substances repelled by magnetic fields, distinguishing diamagnetic from paramagnetic materials, and advancing the experimental foundations for his later work on magnetism and molecular theory. His results influenced James Clerk Maxwell and others in developing electromagnetic theory. For a synopsis of the controversy surrounding this paper see Roland Jackson’s The Ascent of John Tyndall (2018).

Tyndall, later Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Institution in London, was a leading experimental physicist of his generation. He became well known for his studies on the scattering of light (the “Tyndall effect”), radiant heat, and the transmission of heat through the atmosphere, which contributed to the scientific understanding of climate and the greenhouse effect. His early work on diamagnetism helped establish his reputation as a major figure in physical science.

Scarce in its original printed wrappers, with other contributions including “Synopsis of the Ichthyological Fauna of the Pacific slope of North America” by Louis Agassiz, McLeod’s “The Arabic or Indian Mention of Notation,” and Ross’s “On the Effect of the Pressure of the Atmosphere on the Mean Level of the Ocean.”

Price: $125.00