Abstract
Abstract. August Colding was one of the three pioneers who in the mid-1800s almost simultaneously and independently formulated the first law of thermodynamics, the two others being Robert Mayer and James Joule. This first, significant achievement was followed by a sequence of other ground-breaking discoveries within a broad range of disciplines: magnetism, steam power, gas production, hydraulics, soil physics, hydrology, heating and ventilation, meteorology, and oceanography. Moreover, he made a significant contribution to the understanding of the spread of cholera. In hydrology, he used evaporation experiments to obtain water balances. Independently, he formulated Darcy's law and was the first to calculate the water table between drainpipes and the piezometric surface in confined aquifers. His main occupation, however, was chief engineer in Copenhagen, where he modernized the city by introducing groundwater-based water supply and building a waterworks delivering pressured, clean water into houses, a gasworks and gas-based street lighting, and a citywide sewage system. Colding has not been as recognized internationally as he might deserve, probably because most of his publications were written in Danish. Even in Denmark, he seems today almost forgotten. This paper highlights his most important scientific contributions, in particular his achievements in hydrology, hydraulics, meteorology, and oceanography.
Highlights
Ludvig August Colding (1815–1888) grew up on a farm close to Copenhagen but showed no interest in becoming a farmer
August Colding was one of the three pioneers who in the mid-1800s almost simultaneously and independently formulated the first law of thermodynamics, the two others being Robert Mayer and James Joule. This first, significant achievement was followed by a sequence of other ground-breaking discoveries within a broad range of disciplines: magnetism, steam power, gas production, hydraulics, soil physics, hydrology, heating and ventilation, meteorology, and oceanography
He was trained as a cabinet maker after advice from Hans Christian Ørsted, with whom his father was acquainted
Summary
Ludvig August Colding (1815–1888) grew up on a farm close to Copenhagen but showed no interest in becoming a farmer Instead, he was trained as a cabinet maker after advice from Hans Christian Ørsted (the world-renowned physicist who discovered electro-magnetism), with whom his father was acquainted. He was trained as a cabinet maker after advice from Hans Christian Ørsted (the world-renowned physicist who discovered electro-magnetism), with whom his father was acquainted This first training raised his interest for engineering, and, having passed the entrance examination, he started at the Polytechnic School, where Ørsted was director. During his studies, he assisted Ørsted by measuring the heat released from compression of water.
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