First Principles of Electricity and Magnetism

Abstract

THIS book is intended, it is stated in the author's preface, for beginners in practical work, and is an expansion of a series of papers which appeared in the Electrical Engineer. The author considers it necessary to lead off with a chapter on atoms, molecules, mass, force, weight (and the fundamental units), work and energy. The idea evidently is to convey to the beginner information in a more or less familiar and chatty style, and the book is certainly readable. We wish we could say that the information was always quite correct. As containing examples of well-meant but inaccurate statements, we may refer to the explanation (?) of the different gravitational attractions in the same mass at different points of the earth's surface. The account of the effect of the flattening at the poles leaves much to be desired, and the effect of centrifugal force is not even mentioned.

First Principles of Electricity and Magnetism.

By C. H. W. Biggs. Pp. 481 + xv. (London: Biggs and Co.)