Charles-Augustin de Coulomb

Charles Augustin Coulomb (June 14, 1736 – August 23, 1806) was a French physicist.

Related Topics:
June 14 - 1736 - August 23 - 1806 - French - Physicist

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Coulomb was born in Angoulême, France. He chose the profession of military engineer, and spent three years, to the decided injury of his health, at Fort Bourbon, Martinique. Upon his return, he was employed at La Rochelle, the Isle of Aix and Cherbourg.

Related Topics:
Angoulême - France - Fort Bourbon - Martinique - La Rochelle - Isle of Aix - Cherbourg

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In 1781, he was stationed permanently at Paris. On the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789, he resigned his appointment as intendant des eaux et fontaines, and retired to a small estate which he possessed at Blois. He was recalled to Paris for a time in order to take part in the new determination of weights and measures, which had been decreed by the Revolutionary government. Of the National Institute he was one of the first members; and he was appointed inspector of public instruction in 1802. But his health was already very feeble, and four years later he died at Paris.

Related Topics:
1781 - Paris - Revolution - 1789 - Blois - Weights and measures - National Institute - 1802

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Coulomb is distinguished in the history of mechanics and of electricity and magnetism. In 1779 he published an important investigation of the laws of friction (Théorie des machines simples, en ayant égard au frottement de leurs parties et à la roideur des cordages), which was followed twenty years later by a memoir on viscosity.

Related Topics:
Mechanics - Electricity - Magnetism - 1779 - Friction - Viscosity

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In 1785 his Recherches théoriques et expérimentales sur la force de torsion et sur l'élasticité des fils de metal appeared. This memoir contained a description of different forms of his torsion balance. He used the instrument with great success for the experimental investigation of the distribution of charge on surfaces, of the laws of electrical and magnetic force, and of the mathematical theory of which he may also be regarded as the founder.

Related Topics:
1785 - Torsion balance - Charge - Mathematical

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The unit of charge, the coulomb, and Coulomb's law are named after him.

Related Topics:
Unit - Coulomb - Coulomb's law

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