ESD Physics and Devices
Chapter One
Electrostatics and
Electrothermal Physics
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The discovery of electrostatic attraction and electrostatic discharge (ESD) is one of the
earliest examples of the understanding of scientific thought and analysis. It goes back to
the early foundations of the problem of the nature of matter, astronomy, mathematics
and philosophy, and predates understanding of the nature of matter.
Thales of Miletus (624-546 B.C.E) was the founder of the Ionian (or Milesian) school
and one of the Seven Wise Men of Ancient Greece in the pre-Socratic era. Thales was an
astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher. He was an inventor and an engineer.
Thales established a heritage of searching for knowledge for knowledge's sake, development
of the scientific method, establishment of practical methods, and application of
a conjectural approach to questions of natural phenomena. Th ... read full excerpt from ESD Physics and Devices ebook
