Robert Bruce Lindsay


Robert Bruce Lindsay was an American physicist and academic, known as a prolific author of books on acoustics, and historical and philosophical analyses of physics.

Biography

R Bruce Lindsay's January 1, 1900, birth date hailed the beginning of the last year of the 19th century. At the age of 20, he received both a BA and an MS in physics from Brown University. Before receiving his Ph.D. for atomic models of alkali metals from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1924, he spent the 1922–23 academic year as a Fellow of The American-Scandinavian Foundation at the University of Copenhagen under Niels Bohr and Hans Kramers. Lindsay and his wife Rachel translated Kramers’ book, The Atom and the Bohr Theory of its Structure, in 1923, receiving approximately $125, on which they toured Europe. Lindsay went to Yale University in 1923 as instructor in physics, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1927. He returned to Brown in 1930 as associate professor of theoretical physics, and was named Hazard Professor of Physics in 1936. He acted as chairman of the physics department at Brown from 1934 until he became dean of the graduate school in 1954. Lindsay received the ASA Gold Medal in 1962, before retiring as dean of the graduate school in 1966 and from teaching in 1970. He died March 2, 1985, in Newport, Rhode Island.

Scientific contributions

A specialist in acoustics, particularly underwater sound, Lindsay’s career began in experimental physics, but eventually focused on the creation of thought-provoking physics books and courses. His innovative courses, such as “The Role of Science in Civilization” and “Energy and Man”, went beyond mere technical knowledge. Most of Lindsay's books were reprinted multiple times, and many remain in print. He is the namesake of the prestigious R. Bruce Lindsay Award, presented by the Acoustical Society of America since 1942.

Books

  • George W. Stewart & Robert Bruce Lindsay, Acoustics: A Text on Theory and Applications, 368pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Physical Mechanics: An Intermediate Text for Students of the Physical Sciences , Van Nostrand, 451pp.
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay & Henry Margenau, Foundations of Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 542pp. . Reprint Dover Publications & Ox Bow Press
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, General Physics for Students of Science, John Wiley & Sons .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Introduction to Physical Statistics, John Wiley & Sons, 306pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Student's Handbook of Elementary Physics, Dryden Press .
  • John William Strutt (Lord Rayleigh) & Robert Bruce Lindsay, Theory of Sound, 2V, Dover Publishing .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Concepts and Methods of Theoretical Physics, Van Nostrand, 515pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Mechanical Radiation, McGraw Hill, 415pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, The Role of Science in Civilization, Harper & Row, 318pp..
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, The Nature of Physics: A Physicist's Views on the History and Philosophy of his Science, Brown University Press, 212pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Julius Robert Mayer, Prophet of Energy , Pergamon Press, 238pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Basic Concepts of Physics, Van Nostrand, 608pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Acoustics: Historical and Philosophical Development , Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 480pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Physical Acoustics , Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 480pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Energy , John Wiley & Sons, 384pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Applications of Energy: Nineteenth Century , John Wiley & Sons, 432pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Coal , Halsted Press, 400pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, The Second Law of Thermodynamics , Halsted Press, 329pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, The Control of Energy , Halsted Press, 404pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Early Concepts of Energy in Atomic Physics , Stroudsburg, Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 329pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, ed. Mechanical, Thermal, and Chemical Storage of Energy , Academic Press, 379pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, ed. Electrochemical, Electrical, and Magnetic Storage of Energy , Academic Press, 350pp. .
  • Robert Bruce Lindsay, Energy in Atomic Physics, 1925-1960 , Van Nostrand Reinhold, 381pp. .
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Scientific Papers

  • R. B. Lindsay, “The Carbon Atom Model and the Structure of Diamond”, ', S2, V29, N4, pp. 497–509.
  • R. B. Lindsay, “High Frequency Sound Radiation from a Diaphragm”, ', S2, V32, N3, pp. 515–519.
  • R. B. Lindsay, “Note on the Theory of Acoustic Wave Filters”, ', S2, V34, N4, pp. 652–655.
  • R. B. Lindsay, “Connectors in Acoustical Conduits”, ', S2, V34, N5, pp. 808–816.
  • R. B. Lindsay, “A Canonical Transformation and the Vibrations of a Loaded String”, ', S2, V38, N3, pp. 491–500.
  • W. S. Wilson & R. B. Lindsay, “Atomic Wave Functions for Some Excited States of Helium”, ', S2, V47, N9, pp. 681–686.
  • R. B. Lindsay, “Finite Acoustic Filters”,, V8, N4, pp. 211–216.