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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, on a paper 'On the dynamical theory of gases' by James Clerk Maxwell

Reference number: RR/6/179

Date: 13 October 1866

Description

Recommended for publication in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'. Hopes that his other letter hasn't caused delay in publication of the paper, as he has recently been on the Great Eastern. Suggests some of the statements regarding molecules should be made clearer. The investigations are important, although suggests the author should warn the readers as regards the conclusion, which the referee considers wrong. Provides a thought experiment regarding air in a tube. Refers to work of Siméon Denis Poisson.

Subject: Physics and Chemistry

[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society]

Reference number
RR/6/179
Earliest possible date
13 October 1866
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
22 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Thomson

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Citation

William Thomson, Referee's report by William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, on a paper 'On the dynamical theory of gases' by James Clerk Maxwell, 13 October 1866, RR/6/179, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_6_179/referees-report-by-william-thomson-1st-baron-kelvin-on-a-paper-on-the-dynamical-theory-of-gases-by-james-clerk-maxwell, accessed on 21 March 2025

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  • Referee Reports

    This collection contains reports on scientific papers submitted for publication to the Royal Society. Started in 1832 when the system was formalised, it is a record of the origins of peer review publishing in practice.

    Dates: 1832 - 1954

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