Thomas Young (scientist): Work

“[T]he lectures… may be expected to remain tolerably commensurate to the state of the sciences for a much longer period; since, in investigations so intimately connected with mathematical principles, the essential improvements will always bear a very small proportion to the number of innovations. …the references, which it contains, are… sufficient to lead those, who may consult the passages quoted, to the works of every author of eminence that has treated of the respective subjects.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

Quotes , Mathematics , Science

“The historical part of the work can scarcely be called new, but several of the circumstances, which are related, have escaped the notice of former writers on the history of the sciences.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

History , Science , Parting

“I have… begun to collect materials for a work… relating to every department of medical knowledge: …it will be comparatively more concise than these lectures, in proportion to what has been said and written respecting physic, but, I hope, much more complete, with regard to all that is known with certainty, and can be applied with utility.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface (March 30, 1807)
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

Hope , Knowledge

“There is no study more difficult than that of physic: it exceeds, as a science, the comprehension of the human mind: and those who blunder onwards, without attempting to understand what they see, are often very nearly on a level with those, who depend too much on imperfect generalisations, applied to facts, which can scarcely be subjected to any well marked analogy. Hence it may happen, that talents and labour may become useless for want of a proper direction… To assist in furnishing the student with a sufficient direction… is the principal object of this work.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Source: An Introduction to Medical Literature, Including a System of Practical Nosology (1823), p. 2

Understanding , Study , Science , Dependency

“The arrangement of the whole work is probably different… from any other… the extent of the subjects… rendered it necessary to preserve a… methodical and uniform system; and it is presumed, that this arrangement will be… of some value, especially in a work calculated to serve as a key, by means of which, access may be obtained to all the widely scattered treasures of science; and which will enable those… desirous of extending their researches in any particular department, to obtain expeditiously all the information that books can afford them.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

Books , Science

“In the astronomical and physical division of the work, will be found a general rule for determining the correction on account of aberration; a comparison of observations on the; formulae for finding the heat of summer and winter; remarks on the theory of the winds; and a comparative table of all the mechanical properties of a variety of natural bodies.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface, p. x
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

Nature , Winter , Summer

“In the astronomical and physical division of the work, will be found a general rule for determining the correction on account of aberration; a comparison of observations on the figure of the earth; a table of the order of electrical excitation; a chart of the variation of the compass, and of the trade winds; formulae for finding the heat of summer and winter; remarks on the theory of the winds; and a comparative table of all the mechanical properties of a variety of natural bodies.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

Summer , Winter , Nature

“Besides these improvements,… there are others,… which may… be interesting to those… engaged in those departments… Among these may be ranked, in the division of mechanics, properly so called, a simple demonstration of the law of the force by which a body revolves in an ellipsis; another of the properties of cycloidal pendulums; an examination of the mechanism of animal motions; a comparison of the measures and weights of different countries; and a convenient estimate of the effect of human labour: with respect to architecture, a simple method of drawing the outline of a column: an investigation of the best forms for arches; a determination of the curve which affords the greatest space for turning; considerations on the structure of the joints employed in carpentry, and on the firmness of wedges; and an easy mode of forming a kirb roof: for the purposes of machinery of different kinds, an arrangement of bars for obtaining rectilinear motion; an inquiry into the most eligible proportions of wheels and pinions; remarks on the friction of wheel work, and of balances; a mode of finding the form of a tooth for impelling a pallet without friction; a chronometer for measuring minute portions of time; a clock escapement; a calculation of the effect of temperature on steel springs; an easy determination of the best line of draught for a carriage; an investigation of the resistance to be overcome by a wheel or roller; and an estimation of the ultimate pressure produced by a blow.”

Thomas Young (scientist)

Preface
A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts (1807)

Drawing , Time , Law , Country