Clausius' Virial Theorem

Abstract

THE above-named theorem, which appeared in the Phil. Mag. for August 1870, much as it is now used in connection with the kinetic theory of gases, received little, if any, attention in England for some time after its introduction. Apparently the theorem was accepted without hesitation or discussion, and, as far as I can learn, neither on its first introduction or since has it received any adverse criticism, or, in fact, any criticism whatsoever. My object in writing this letter is, in the first place, to direct attention to the arguments used by Clausius to establish his theorem, which appear to me to be unsound, and secondly, by applying a simple test case, to show that the theorem itself is not true.