NEW BOOKS
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The Physiurl Ezamination of Metals. VoZ. I . Optical Methods. First edition. By BRUCECEALMEBS. 176 pp. New York: Longmans, Green and Company, 1939. Price: 84.00. The author makes no claim to have prepared a complete treatise on this subject; however, he haa illustrated well all of the fundamental optical methods used for metals. The book is not a treatment of optical metallography alone, as the title might imply, b u t covers all optical methods which might be used for many materials other than metals. From Chapter I, the introduction, we get an idea of the properties of light, the visible spectrum, and the electromagnetic spectrum. In Chapter 11, “Geometrical Optics,” may be mentioned such subjects as measurement of reflectivity, fluorescence, and the optical properties of thin films. Two chapters are devoted t o the subject of wave optics. In the first, “Interference,” we find parallel and inclined plate systems and the Michelson interferometer discussed with such applications aa Newton’s rings, measurement of elastic moduli, precision extensometer, dilatometers, micro-topography, micro-interferometer, colors of oxide films, etc. The second chapter, “Diffraction,” treats of diffraction by edge, slit, and wire; diffraction grating, measurement of mesh; measurement of size of powder; and resolving power of microscope, touching upon ultraviolet microscopy. I n Chapter V, “Polarized Light,” the moat important applications seem t o be in the determination of microstructure and the presence and nature of inclusions. The book closes with a discussion of sources of light, with some reference to radiation pyrometry, spectrographic analysis, and photography. One need not be an atomic physicist to be able to read the book. .4 layman or t h e average scientist can profit considerably by studying this volume and applying the fundamental concepts of light to his own problems so as t o extend his particular branch of science. The author points the way for the use of many of these methods in practice. The book is written systematically in a clear and concise manner and is well indexed. Dr. Chalmers has accomplished a good job and is to be congratulated. RALPHL. DOWDELL.
Statisfa& Thermodynamics. By R. H. FOWLER AND E. GUGGENHEIM. London: Cambridge University Press, 1939. T o readers of Professor Fowler’s treatise, Statistical Mechanics, this work will need neither introduction nor recommendation, since in essentials i t is a revised version of the most important portions of the earlier treatise. In scope i t is roughly that of Statistical Mechanics, with the exclusion of the astrophysical problems and with the inclusion of much new material particularly of chemical interest. Even though i t does not altogether supersede its predecessor, the present work will undoubtedly find even greater favor and usefulness as a reference source. The changed title may seem a little misleading, particularly to American readers, since i t suggests that the book covers both statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. This is true only in8ofar as statistical methods are used for the computation of thermodynamic functions, but thermodynamic arguments per se are not used. T o the present reviewer i t seems a little regrettable that a short treatment of the mathematical structure of thermodynamic equations was not included, as i t would have materially enhanced the pedagogic features of the book. But this is only a very minor point. The approach t o statistical mechanics through the so-called “Darwin-Fowler method” haa been somewhat simplified, and the reader will probably need some
