Maxwell almost failed his qualifying exam

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Maxwell reportedly struggled with his qualifying exam, failing the first two questions before being given a take-home assignment, which he completed with the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of velocities. Some participants in the discussion seek verification of this story and sources to support it, noting that details may vary. Wikipedia indicates that Maxwell presented the velocity distribution in 1866 when he was around 24 years old and had a strong academic record at Cambridge. There is skepticism regarding the qualifying exam narrative, as Maxwell's undergraduate performance was exceptional, and he had multiple attempts to prove the speed distribution without satisfaction. The conversation highlights the need for clarity on Maxwell's academic history and the origins of the qualifying exam story.
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I have heard a story from one of my professors that Maxwell had failed the first two questions of his qualifying exam, and as a last chance, they gave him a take-home assignment. Maxwell returned with the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of velocities.

Can anyone verify also hearing a similar story (the details may be off) ? Can anyone find a source for this? I can't find anything on Google
 
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hh73 said:
I have heard a story from one of my professors that Maxwell had failed the first two questions of his qualifying exam, and as a last chance, they gave him a take-home assignment. Maxwell returned with the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of velocities.

Can anyone verify also hearing a similar story (the details may be off) ? Can anyone find a source for this? I can't find anything on Google

According to wikipedia, he gave the Maxwellian distribution of velocities in 1866 (so he was 24 or 25 years old). He started university much younger (age 16) than this and apparently did extremely well there. What do you mean by "qualifying exam"?
 
Unlikely. Maxwell had a brilliant undergraduate career at Cambridge. I wonder if the confusion arises from Maxwell's three successive attempts to produce a proof of the speed distribution. He regarded none as satisfactory.
 

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