Sadi Carnot
Nicholas-Léonard-Sadi Carnot
“Father of Thermodynamics”
French mathematician, constructor and an engineer of steam engines
Physics III / IV and Engineering Biography Project
Professor Steven Walk
Chan Dong Kim
5 November 2014
Industrialization during the 20th century was a revolutionary pedestal for the modern societies in developed countries. The improvement and advancement in science and technology has pushed not only the developed countries, but also the entire mankind into a growth exponential curve. As a result of industrialization, human population growth rate exploded from 0.8 percent to 1.8 percent1 and global grain output rose 2.6 times2. Thus, industrialization has made a significant impact on human civilizations. Within such critical time period, there were many bright scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and officials that led and developed the progress in human societies. As a scientist, “steam engine constructor,”3 and as a mathematician, Nicholas Léonard-Sadi Carnot, was among one of many people that assisted in transforming and engraving the history of mankind through industrialization.
Sadi Carnot was born as the eldest son of Lazare Nicolas-Marguérite Carnot in June 1st, 1796, at the Palais du Petit-Luxembourg. Sadi Carnot had one younger brother, Hippolyte Carnot. Carnot was born during a time of political unease and turmoil in France, due to his father’s career and position. In the late 18th century, Napoleon Bonaparte held the political power of France. Sadi’s father, Marguérite Carnot was a geometer, who published Géométrie de position, Napoleon’s minister of war in 1799, and was a member of the Directory of the French Revolutionary government from 1795 to 1799. However, despite such environment of interaction between science and politics, Sadi Carnot was raised in his father’s care and affection. Marguérite Carnot resigned his political offices and devoted his life to education of his two sons. Through his father,
“Father of Thermodynamics”
French mathematician, constructor and an engineer of steam engines
Physics III / IV and Engineering Biography Project
Professor Steven Walk
Chan Dong Kim
5 November 2014
Industrialization during the 20th century was a revolutionary pedestal for the modern societies in developed countries. The improvement and advancement in science and technology has pushed not only the developed countries, but also the entire mankind into a growth exponential curve. As a result of industrialization, human population growth rate exploded from 0.8 percent to 1.8 percent1 and global grain output rose 2.6 times2. Thus, industrialization has made a significant impact on human civilizations. Within such critical time period, there were many bright scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and officials that led and developed the progress in human societies. As a scientist, “steam engine constructor,”3 and as a mathematician, Nicholas Léonard-Sadi Carnot, was among one of many people that assisted in transforming and engraving the history of mankind through industrialization.
Sadi Carnot was born as the eldest son of Lazare Nicolas-Marguérite Carnot in June 1st, 1796, at the Palais du Petit-Luxembourg. Sadi Carnot had one younger brother, Hippolyte Carnot. Carnot was born during a time of political unease and turmoil in France, due to his father’s career and position. In the late 18th century, Napoleon Bonaparte held the political power of France. Sadi’s father, Marguérite Carnot was a geometer, who published Géométrie de position, Napoleon’s minister of war in 1799, and was a member of the Directory of the French Revolutionary government from 1795 to 1799. However, despite such environment of interaction between science and politics, Sadi Carnot was raised in his father’s care and affection. Marguérite Carnot resigned his political offices and devoted his life to education of his two sons. Through his father,
Cited: Bailyn, M. 1985. Carnot and the universal heat death. Amer. J. Phys. 53 (11): 1092-1099. Barnett, M Challey, J.F. 1970. Biography in Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s Georgia State Univeristy, “Carnot Cycle.” Hyperphysics, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/carnot.html (accessed November 1 , 2014) Population Matters. 2011. Human Population History. Population Matters. Glossary: 1-2. "Sadi Carnot," The Famous People website, http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/sadi-carnot-550.php (accessed Nov 2, 2014). Townsend, B. 2003. “The Life and Ideas of Sadi Carnot.” http://ffden2.phys.uaf.edu/212_fall2003.web.dir/Ben_Townsend/biography.htm (accessed November 1, 2014). Worldbank