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Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot

French father of thermodynamics

Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot was a French mechanical engineer and physicist known for his work on the efficiency of heat engines. His book 'Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire' laid the groundwork for thermodynamics. Although his work was initially overlooked, it later influenced the second law of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy. Carnot's contributions have had a lasting impact on modern science and technology.

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Ludwig Boltzmann Nikola Tesla Carl Friedrich Gauss René Descartes James Clerk Maxwell Michael Faraday Carl Sagan Leonardo da Vinci Napoleon Bonaparte Bertrand Russell

Timeline

Birth of Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot

Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot, a French mechanical engineer and physicist, was born in Paris. He is often referred to as the 'father of thermodynamics' for his groundbreaking work on heat engines and the concept of entropy.

Carnot's Father Leaves Paris for Switzerland

After a military coup deposed the directors in 1797, Carnot's father left Paris for Switzerland. This move was a result of the political upheavals in France during that time.

Carnot's Father Appointed Minister of War under Napoleon

After returning to France from exile, Carnot's father was appointed as the minister of war under Napoleon in 1800. This marked a significant political role for him during that period.

Enrollment in École Polytechnique

At the age of 16, Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot enrolled in the École Polytechnique in Paris to pursue his education in engineering. The school was renowned for its mathematical instruction and had notable professors in both science and mathematics.

Sadi enters École Polytechnique

In 1812, Sadi entered the prestigious École Polytechnique, known for its exceptional education in physics, chemistry, and mathematics. He graduated in 1814 amidst the turmoil of Napoleon's empire being rolled back and European armies invading France.

Portrait of Sadi Carnot at the age of 17

A portrait of Sadi Carnot at the age of 17, created in the year 1813 by Bailly. The portrait was published by Wilhelm Engelmann in Leipzig and engraved by Meisenbach Riffarth & Co.

Graduation and Military Service

After graduating in 1814, Carnot joined the French army and participated in military engagements in Vincennes, following his father's footsteps who was a general in Napoleon's army.

Exile of Sadi Carnot's father, Lazare Carnot

Due to his father's involvement with Napoleon during the Hundred Days, Lazare Carnot was forced into exile after Napoleon's final defeat. This event had repercussions on Sadi Carnot's life as well.

Sadi's discussions with Nicolas Clément-Desormes

In 1819, Sadi engaged in long discussions with physicist Nicolas Clément-Desormes, gaining inspiration and further clarifying his theories. Sadi's insight and ability to generalize concepts were instrumental in his scientific pursuits.

Efficiency of Early Steam Engines and Carnot's Contribution

During the early 19th century, the efficiency of steam engines was as low as 3%, prompting engineers to experiment with various mechanical means and fuels for improvement. Sadi Carnot's work in delineating the underlying science of steam engines and his focus on energy conservation were groundbreaking for the time.

Death of Carnot's Father

In 1823, Carnot's father passed away, which may have had a significant impact on his life and work.

Sadi Carnot publishes treatise on heat engines

On June 12, 1824, Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot published a treatise on heat engines. This work laid the foundation for the second law of thermodynamics and is considered a significant contribution to the field of thermodynamics.

Pierre Girard's review of Carnot's book

On July 26, 1824, Pierre Girard gave a positive review of Carnot's book to the Académie des Sciences in Paris. The review was published in the Revue encyclopédique, but it did not fully acknowledge the original reasoning employed by Carnot in his work.

Return to Military Service

In 1826, Carnot was called back to military service for two years with the rank of captain.

Carnot recalled to military duties

In 1827, Carnot was recalled to full-time military duties as a military engineer in Paris. He served for less than a year before retiring permanently to focus on his research into the theory of heat.

Carnot Retired from the Army

In 1828, Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot retired from the army without receiving a pension.

Support for Constitutional Monarchy

In 1830, Carnot favored the replacement of Charles X of France by Louis-Philippe under a constitutional monarchy, which was supported by liberal factions of the French population.

Death of Nicolas Léonard 'Sadi' Carnot

Nicolas Léonard 'Sadi' Carnot, a pioneer in the field of thermodynamics, passed away in 1832.

Émile Clapeyron publishes paper based on Carnot's work

In 1834, Émile Clapeyron published a paper that built upon Carnot's ideas from his 1824 pamphlet. This paper played a crucial role in further developing the concept of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.

Development of Kelvin temperature scale

William Thomson, later known as Lord Kelvin, utilized Carnot's principles to define temperature in a new way. He introduced the Kelvin temperature scale, which set the zero point at absolute zero and revolutionized the measurement of temperature.

Incorporation of Carnot's views into thermodynamic theory by Rudolf Clausius

In 1850, Rudolf Clausius incorporated Carnot's views on the efficiency of steam engines into the developing thermodynamic theory. This integration marked a significant advancement in the understanding of heat and energy conversion.

Contribution of William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) to thermodynamic theory

In 1851, William Thomson (later known as Lord Kelvin) contributed to the development of thermodynamic theory, building upon Carnot's work on the efficiency of steam engines. His contributions further advanced the understanding of heat and energy conversion.

Publication of Carnot's Notes by his Brother

Excerpts from Carnot's notes, preserved by his brother Hippolyte, were published in 1871. These notes include a clear statement about the equivalence of heat and work and the conservation of energy.

Publication of Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat

In 1890, Sadi Carnot's book 'Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat' was published. This work eventually had a real impact on the design of practical engines, influencing the development of more efficient engines like the diesel engine.

Rudolf Diesel's Diesel Engine Design Inspired by Carnot's Theories

Rudolf Diesel drew inspiration from Sadi Carnot's theories when he designed the diesel engine in 1893. Carnot's contributions to thermodynamics had a lasting impact on the development of engines and machinery.

Sadi Carnot and the second law of thermodynamics

M Barnett's work published in 1958 in Osiris, exploring Sadi Carnot's role in the development of the second law of thermodynamics.

Carnot's Theory on Motive Power Production

Carnot stated that in steam engines, the production of motive power is not due to the actual consumption of caloric but to its transportation from a warm body to a cold body. He also mentioned that the motive power increases with the difference in temperature between the warm and cold bodies.

Watt's expansive principle in the work of Sadi Carnot and Nicholas Clément

R Fox's work published in 1970 in the Notes and Records of the Royal Society, examining Watt's expansive principle in the context of Sadi Carnot and Nicholas Clément's contributions.

A propos des notices biographiques sur Sadi Carnot

An article by A Birembaut published in 1974 in the Revue d'Histoire des Sciences, discussing some previously unpublished biographical documents related to Sadi Carnot.

Publication of Sadi Carnot's book with editor Mendoza, E.

Sadi Carnot's book was published in 1977 with Mendoza, E. as the editor in Gloucester, Massachusetts by Peter Smith.

Carnot and the universal heat death

An article by M Bailyn published in 1985 in the American Journal of Physics, discussing Carnot's contributions to the concept of universal heat death.

The conceptual import of Carnot's theorem to the discovery of the entropy

An article by P M C Dias, S P Pinto, and H Deisemar published in 1995 in the Archive for History of Exact Sciences, discussing the significance of Carnot's theorem in the discovery of entropy.

End of the Timeline
Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot

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