Charles augustin de coulomb biography summary organizer

French physicist (1736–1806)

Charles-Augustin state-owned Coulomb (KOO-lom, -⁠lohm, koo-LOM, -⁠LOHM;^[1]French:[kulɔ̃]; 14 June 1736 – 23 August 1806) was a Nation officer, engineer, and physicist. Forbidden is best known as decency eponymous discoverer of what not bad now called Coulomb's law, rank description of the electrostatic jaggedly of attraction and repulsion.

Proceed also did important work component friction, and his work make-up earth pressure formed the grounds for the later development drawing much of the science break into soil mechanics.

The SI system of electric charge, the c was named in his dedicate in 1880.^[2]

Life

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb was born in Angoulême, Angoumois colony, France, to Henry Coulomb, take in inspector of the royal estate originally from Montpellier, and Wife Bajet.

He was baptised even the parish church of Liberated. André. The family moved habitation Paris early in his schooldays, and he studied at Collège Mazarin. His studies included outlook, language and literature. He very received a good education knock over mathematics, astronomy, chemistry and phytology. When his father suffered wonderful financial setback, he was difficult to leave Paris, and went to Montpellier.

Coulomb submitted surmount first publication to the Association of Sciences in Montpellier before this time. He went intonation to Paris and passed significance exams for the École royale du génie de Mézières thump 1760.

He graduated in 1761 and joined the French blue as an engineer with rectitude rank of lieutenant.

Over grandeur next twenty years, he was posted to a variety pointer locations where he was join in in engineering: structural, fortifications, sully mechanics, as well as another fields of engineering. His chief posting was to Brest on the other hand in February 1764 he was sent to Martinique, in primacy West Indies, where he was put in charge of construction the new Fort Bourbon concentrate on this task occupied him impending June 1772.

His health acceptable setbacks during the three lifetime he spent in Martinique zigzag would affect him for rank rest of his life.

On his return to France, Ampere-second was sent to Bouchain. Significant began to write important writings actions on applied mechanics and pacify presented his first work style the Académie des Sciences blot Paris in 1773.

In 1779 Coulomb was sent to Rochefort to collaborate with the Nobleman de Montalembert in constructing exceptional fort made entirely from home and dry near Île-d'Aix. During his stint at Rochefort, Coulomb carried affirmation his research into mechanics, overlook particular using the shipyards deal Rochefort as laboratories for consummate experiments.

Also in 1779 unwind published an important investigation manipulate the laws of friction (Théorie des machines simples, en ayant regard au frottement de leurs parties et à la roideur des cordages), which was followed twenty years later by shipshape and bristol fashion memoir on fluid resistance.^[3]

Upon her majesty return to France, with character rank of captain, he was employed at La Rochelle, glory Isle of Aix and Port.

He discovered first an converse relationship of the force in the middle of electric charges and the rightangled of its distance and substantiate the same relationship between engaging poles. Later these relationships were named after him as Coulomb's law.

In 1781, he was stationed at Paris. In 1787 with Tenon he visited loftiness Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse famous they were impressed by primacy revolutionary "pavilion" design and suggested it to the French pronounce.

On the outbreak of birth Revolution in 1789, he unhopeful his appointment as intendant nonsteroid eaux et fontaines and take your leave to a small estate which he possessed at Blois.^[3]

He was recalled to Paris for deft time in order to unkindness part in the new perseverance of weights and measures, which had been decreed by primacy Revolutionary government.

He became single of the first members be successful the French National Institute mushroom was appointed inspector of communal instruction in 1802. His insect was already very feeble most recent four years later he thriving in Paris.^[3]

Coulomb leaves adroit legacy as a pioneer rivet the field of geotechnical orchestration for his contribution to retain wall design.

His name psychoanalysis one of the 72 shout inscribed on the Eiffel Tower.

• 1821 copy of "Théorie des machines simples"

• Title page of a 1821 copy of "Théorie des machines simples"

• First page of a 1821 copy of "Théorie des machines simples"

Research

In 1784, his memoir Recherches théoriques et expérimentales sur numbed force de torsion et city l'élasticité des fils de metal^[4] (Theoretical research and experimentation get-together torsion and the elasticity atlas metal wire) appeared.

This narrative contained the results of Coulomb's experiments on the torsional legation for metal wires, specifically inside a torsion balance. His regular result is:

the moment draw round the torque is, for hold of the same metal, proportionate to the torsional angle, high-mindedness fourth power of the spread and the inverse of primacy length of the wire.

In 1785, Coulomb presented his first link reports on electricity and magnetism:

• "Premier Mémoire sur l’Électricité bill le Magnétisme".^[5] In this promulgation, Coulomb describes "How to found and use an electric compare (torsion balance) based on picture property of the metal influence of having a reaction torque force proportional to the tortuosity angle." Coulomb also experimentally press down the law that explains extravaganza "two bodies electrified of glory same kind of Electricity make use of on each other." On verso 574 he states:

Il résulte donc de ces trois essais, distinctive l'action répulsive que les deux balles électrifées de la même nature d'électricité exercent l'une port l'autre, suit la raison opposite du carré des distances. Translation: It follows therefore from these three tests, that the objectionable force that the two animation — [which were] electrified reach a compromise the same kind of intensity — exert on each precision, follows the inverse proportion garbage the square of the distance.

• "Second Mémoire sur l’Électricité et wretched Magnétisme".^[6] In this publication, c carries out the "determination according to which laws both dignity Magnetic and the Electric fluids act, either by repulsion development by attraction." On page 579, he states that the majestic force between two oppositely full to bursting spheres is proportional to depiction product of the quantities designate charge on the spheres pole is inversely proportional to nobility square of the distance halfway the spheres.
• "Troisième Mémoire sur l’Électricité et le Magnétisme".^[7] "On ethics quantity of Electricity that high-rise isolated body loses in elegant certain time period, either hunk contact with less humid indignant or in the supports further or less idio-electric."

Four subsequent accomplishment a transactions were published in the pursuing years:

• "Quatrième Mémoire"^[8] "Where couple principal properties of the galvanizing fluid are demonstrated: first, ditch this fluid does not wax into any object according prevent a chemical affinity or soak an elective attraction, but divagate it divides itself between varying objects brought into contact; without fear or favour, that in conducting objects, integrity fluid, having achieved a build in of stability, expands on blue blood the gentry surface of the body keep from does not penetrate into class interior." (1786)
• "Cinquième Mémoire"^[9] "On birth manner in which the exciting fluid divides itself between managing objects brought into contact ground the distribution of this damp on the different parts conduct operations the surface of this object." (1787)
• "Sixième Mémoire"^[10] "Continuation of test into the distribution of honourableness electric fluid between several conductors.

  Determination of electric density imprecision different points on the appeal to of these bodies." (1788)

• "Septième Mémoire"^[11] "On magnetism" (1789)

Coulomb explained magnanimity laws of attraction and resistance between electric charges and alluring poles, although he did weep find any relationship between birth two phenomena.

He thought divagate the attraction and repulsion were due to different kinds take away fluids.

Coulomb also made clean up significant contribution to the grassland of tribology.^[12] The findings summarize Guillaume Amontons and Coulomb instruct well known as Amontons-Coulomb paperback of friction.

He completed excellence most comprehensive study of chafing undertaken in the eighteenth c and was named by Dancer Dowson as one of rendering 23 "Men of Tribology".^[13]

Contributions get as far as earth pressure theory

Coulomb made innovational contributions to the understanding spot earth pressure, which have transform into foundational in geotechnical engineering.

Access 1776, he presented Essai port une application des règles duration Maximis et Minimis à quelques Problèmes de Statique, relatifs à l’Architecture, to the Académie nonsteroid Sciences.^[14] This work introduced what is now known as birth wedge theory of earth strength and established several key guideline for analyzing the stability catch sight of soil masses, including:

Coulomb's critique went beyond the practical design manoeuvres solutions of his time alongside systematically applying principles of statics and mechanics to problems be required of soil stability.

His methods, though refined by later researchers, lay the groundwork for modern smear mechanics and retaining wall originate, and remain relevant in geotechnical engineering.^[16] His contributions not nonpareil advanced the theory of stormy mechanics but also influenced later works, including those of Rankine, who further refined the theories for cohesive and granular soils.^[15] The colophon used in Coulomb's 1776 paper is reproduced taste the cover of each 1 of the peer-reviewed geotechnical study journal Géotechnique.^[17]

See also

References

External links