Discover how the first practical standards for electricity were built, and why Lord Kelvin’s work mattered.
This volume surveys the early history of absolute electrical units and the work around them, including foundational experiments and the people who shaped the field. It focuses on the development of measurement standards, the rise of the British Association’s units, and the enduring questions about how to define and realize these quantities.
Through era-spanning reports and appendices, the book illuminates the practical challenges, the evolution of instruments, and the collaborations that pushed electrical science toward consistent, interchangeable standards.
- Learn the origin and purpose of absolute electrical units and how they were defined and compared.
- See how scientists designed and tested standards using coils, condensers, and electrometers.
- Explore the collaboration between researchers, laboratories, and international bodies involved in standardization.
- Get a sense of the historical context and key figures who contributed to this foundational work.
Ideal for readers of the history of science, electrical engineering, and the development of measurement systems.