William John Macquorn Rankine quotes
William John Macquorn Rankine was a Scottish engineer and physicist, recognized for his pioneering work in thermodynamics. His research laid the foundations for modern engineering science, especially in the study of heat engines and energy conversion. He greatly influenced engineering education and practice with his textbooks and theories. Here are 29 of his quotes:
Science Of Energetics. Although the mechanical hypothesis just mentioned may be useful and interesting as a means of anticipating laws, and connecting the science of thermodynamics with that of ordinary mechanics, still it is to be remembered that the science of thermodynamics is by no means dependent for its certainty on that or any other hypothesis, having been now reduced, to a system of principles, or general facts, expressing strictly the results of experiment as to the relations between heat and motive power. In this point of view the laws of thermodynamics may be regarded as particular cases of more general laws, applicable to all such states of matter as constitute Energy, or the capacity to perform work, which more general laws form the basis of the science of energetics, - a science comprehending, as special branches, the theories of motion, heat, light, electricity, and all other physical phenomena.
William John Macquorn Rankine
William John Macquorn Rankine
Occupation: Engineer
Born: July 5, 1820
Died: December 24, 1872
Quotes count: 29
Wikipedia: William John Macquorn Rankine
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