No label defined (Q4534535)

The goal of this paper is twofold: the first is to describe the late Fichera's defence of Fourier theory. Note that Fichera's main argument consisted in the formulation and proof of a theorem whose significance lies in the fact that measurements of temperature and heat flux are necessarily imprecise, and valid only to within limits of observation which depend on the sensitivities of measuring instruments. The second purpose is related to an observation made by Maxwell, namely that the sensible propagation of heat, so far being instantaneous, is in fact an excessively slow process, and the time taken for the bulk of the heat to propagate is proportional to the square of the distance. Due to the author Fourier's theory might also be defended by showing that it implies laws that say that the time elapsed is equal to a multiple of the square of the distance traversed. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0982.00057].