Physics
- June 14 - Johannes Diderik van der Waals defends his thesis, Over de Continuiteit van den Gas en Vloeistoftoestand ("On the continuity of the gaseous and liquid state") at Leiden University. In this, he introduces the concepts of molecular volume and molecular attraction; gives a semi-quantitative description of the phenomena of condensation and critical temperatures; and derives the van der Waals equation.
- September 22 - James Clerk Maxwell delivers a discourse on molecules to the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Bradford.
- James Clerk Maxwell's A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism first presents the partial differential equations known as Maxwell's equations which form the foundation of classical electrodynamics, optics, and electric circuits.
- Frederick Guthrie is the first to report observing thermionic emission.
Read more about this topic: 1873 In Science
Famous quotes containing the word physics:
“Although philosophers generally believe in laws and deny causes, explanatory practice in physics is just the reverse.”
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