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Thanks for the recommendation. The book I referenced discusses both the early hydrodynamic model maxwell used for electrostatics and a rather bizarre (and intr

by twtw 8y ago

Thanks for the recommendation. The book I referenced discusses both the early hydrodynamic model maxwell used for electrostatics and a rather bizarre (and intriguing) mechanical model involving flywheels and gears. Can't comment on whether it linearizes the history though.

scottlocklin 8y ago
These ideas were not original to Maxwell; virtually ALL of the pre-Maxwell theories of electricity and magnetism looked like that. The first chunk of Whittaker's book is all about these mostly forgotten ideas and the cool people who tought them up. It's really a classic.