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Cavendish Laboratory : Maxwell's sketch and notes on Gibbs’ thermodynamic surface, 1875

Cavendish Laboratory

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This form of diagram was introduced by J.W. Gibbs in 'A method of geometrical representation of the thermodynamic properties of substances by means of surfaces', Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences', 2 (1873): 382-404. Maxwell found the lines of equal temperature and pressure that are drawn on the model by holding it up to the sun and observing the edge of the shadow on the model. He enclosed it with his letter to Thomas Andrews of 15 July 1875. For more details see: P.M. Harman, 'The scientific letters and papers of James Clerk Maxwell', Vol.III, CUP 2002, pp.236-238, esp. note 7. This photograph of the manuscript was probably taken on the occasion of the Maxwell Centenary Celebration in 1931.</p>

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