S C I E N T I FI C M E M O I R S

E DIT E D B Y

J 8
. . A M E S, FIL D .

PRO FE SSO R OF S S
PH Y I C IN JO H NS H O PKI N S S
U NI V ER I TY

T HE L A WS O F G R A V IT A T IO N
L A W S O F G R A V IT A T IO N

M E M O IR S BY N E WT O N, BO UG UER

A ND C A V E N D ISH

TO G E TH E R WI TH A B S TR A C TS O F O TH E R

IMP O R TA N T M E M OIR S

TR A NSLATE D A N D E DITE D B Y

A STA N LE Y
.

PR O SSO
FE
MA C K E NZIE FIL D
S S
R O F P HY I C M W O
IN BR YN A R C
,

LL E G E
.

NE W Y O R K CINCINNA TI CH ICA GO

AME R IC AN BO O K CO MP ANY
C o p yr ig h t , 1 900 , b y A M E R I CA N B OO O
K C M PA NY .

W . P . I

f ( r t
 GE NE RAL CO NT E NT S

Pre f ac e
H is to r y of t h e s u b je c t b e f o r e t h e a p p e a ra n c e o f N e w to n
’
s Pm n ezp in .

E x tr ac ts f r o m N e w to n
’

s Pr in cip ia an d Sys tem of the Wor ld

B iog r ap h ical sk e t c h o f N e w to n
T/ze Fig u r e of the E a r th
’
Bo u g u e r s

k
B io g rap h ic a l s e tc h o f B o u g u e r
T h e B er tie r c o n tr o v e r s y

A cc ount o f M as k e l y n e s e x p e r im e n ts o n
’
Sc h e h a l lie n
C av e n d is h E xp er ime n ts to de ter m i n e th e mea n de n sity f th e E a r th
’
s o .

B io g r a p h i c a l s k e tc h o f d
C av e n is h
H i s to r ic al ac c o u n t o f th e e x p e r im e n t s ma d e s in ce t h e t im e o f C av e n

Ta bl e o f r e s u l ts o f e x p e r im e n t s

B ib l iog rap h y
I d
n ex
 P R E FA C E

IN p r ep ar m g t h is volu m e t h e n i n t h in t h e Scie n tific M e

,

m oirs series t h e e di tor h as h ad in m i n d t h e fac t t h at t h e m o s t

,

i m porta n t o f th e me m oirs h e re d eal t wi th t h at o f Caven dish , ,

i s frequ e n tly give n for detailed study to yo u n g physicists in

ord er to trai n th e m in t h e art of readi n g for th e m selves period
ica l scie tific litera tu re C ertai n ly n o better piece o f Work
n .

coul d be u s e d fo r th e p u rpose Wh ether o n e co n siders t h e

,

i tri n si c i m port a n ce of the subj ect m atter th e kee n n ess o f

n -

a rgu m e n t an d the logical prese n tati o n in d etail o r th e u se an d ,

desig n o f apparatu s an d t h e treat m e n t o f so u rces o f error .

T h e m ai n objectio n s t o Cave n dish s work are t h ose h e h i m sel f

’

poi n ted ou t an d it is i m por ta n t to n otice th at n o twit h stan d

, ,

in g all th e adva n ce in th e refi n e m e n t an d m a n ip ulati o n o f

apparatu s wh i c h has bee n m ad e d u ri n g th e ce n t u ry that h as
elapsed si n ce th e date of Cave n d ish s e x peri m e n t h is val u e f o r
’
,

th e m ea n specific gravity of th e earth m ust stil l be c o n

,

s ide r e d o n e o f th e m ost r eliable bei n g n o t f ar fro m t h e latest

,

resul ts o f Poy n ti n g K O n ig an d R ic h a r z a n d K r igar Me n zel

,
-

B oys an d Brau n .

Believi n g th at we in A m erica devote i n su ffi cie n t ti m e i f ,

an y to a stu dy o f N ewto n s great work th e edi t or has though t

’
, ,

i t well t o i n corporate wi th t h e m e m oirs o n th e e x peri m e n tal

i n vestiga t io n of gravitati o n a l a t t ractio n th e state m e n ts o f N e w
t o n h i m self co n cer n i n g th at subj ect .

Th e laws of gravitatio n a re e m bod ied in th e for m ula ,

m
'
m
f :G ,

whi ch says th a t th e attractio n betwee n tw o particl es of m atte r

is directly proportio n al to th e p rod u ct o f th ei r m a sses i n v e rse ,

ly proporti o n a l to the square o f t h e dista n c e betwee n the m ,

an d i depe n de n t o f t h e k i n d o f m a tter an d of the i n terve n i n g

n
 P R E FA C E

m e di u m . is the n a co n sta n t in n ature th e Gravitatio n C on

G ,

sta n t It i s m ore co m m o n perhap s to speak o f the law tha n

.
,

o f th e laws o f gravi tatio n

, t h is h as n o doubt arise n fro m th e
fact that th ey c a n be stated In a si n gle m ath e m ati cal for m ula .

The best evide n ce o f th e tr u th o f th ese laws is i n direct f o r , ,

assu m i n g th e m valid astro n o m ical m easure m e n ts s h ow that

,

th ey accou n t f o r all t h e moti on s of th e h eave n ly bodies Suc h .

m eas u re m e n ts d o n o t h owever e n a bl e u s t o fin d t h e n u m er
, ,

ical val u e of G ; for th at pu rp o se we m u st deter m i n e th e a t

tractio n betwee n two m asses of k n o w n a m ou n t at a k now n
dista n ce a part It is w i t h e x p eri m e n ts o f t his c h arac ter t h at
.
‘
‘

the prese n t v ol um e h as t o de al A S th e m asses u s ed i n s u c h .

“

e x p e r i m e n ts vary fro m a m etal s p h e r e o f a f e w t en t hs c f a n *

‘
-

i n ch in diame ter to a h uge m ou n tai n ma ss o r to a s h ell o f th e , .

e a rt h s c rust 1 250 ft in thi ckn ess a n d as t h e a ttrac t io n h as

’
.
,
‘

bee n obs erve d with s uch difie r e n t i n stru m e n ts a s t he p l um b

li n e t h e p e n d ul u m t h e t o rsi o n b a la n c e t h e pe n d u l u m hal
, , ,
! k

an c e an d t h e be am ba l an c e a n d ye t the re s u l tin g v al u e o t G i s
i i ’ '

al wa ys ab o ut t h e s a m e w e c a n re gard t h ese ex per i m e n ts as

,

co n sti t u ti n g a f u r ther p roof ~o i N ew to n s fl a ws a n d t h e e d it or

“ ’
,

h as a ccordi n gly f e l t j u sti fied i n u si n g t he ti t le give n HA S

i
.

s u m in g th e e arth t o h e a s ph ere t h e val ue of G i s c onn e c t e d ,

with t he va l ue o f the m ea n spec ific gr avi ty of t h e ear t h A

o f
,
1
,

by the e q uatio n

wh ere g is th e accelera tio n d u e to gravity an d R th e ra di us o f ,

t h e ea rth an d acc o rdi n gly i t is q u i te u s ual t o s ta te t h a t t h e

, ,
-

a im o f t h e above e x peri m e n ts is to fi n d th e m e an de n si t f
y o
—

t h e e arth .

Th e work o n th e attrac tio n o f m o un ta in m asses by t h e 5

Fre n ch A c ade m icia n s B ou g u e r an d de la C o n dam i n e in P e r u is

‘

'

of v ery g rea t i m p o rta n c e an d i s n o t kn o wn as i t d ese rves t o

,
‘

be ; al m ost all o f th eir accou n t of t h e w ork i s t h ere fore h ere

prese n ted I t wi ll be s ee n t hat they wer e t h e p io n eer s i n t w o
.
‘ '

o f t h e m et h ods wh ich h ave bee n u se d f o r t h e m easu re m e n t o f

gravi tati o n al attractio n an d al th ough o n acco u n t Of i m per

feet i n str u m e n ts and u rif av o u r able l oc al co nd i ti o n s t h ei r n u
, ,

l (
,

m e i ic al res ults a r e u n tru stworthy t h ey gi ve th e th eo ry an d ,

m eth od o f t he e x pe ri m e n ts with gre at origi n a l i ty an d cle ar

ne ss . Suc h n o te s have bee n ad de d to th e m e m o i rs as seeme d
VI
 P R E FA C E

n ecessary to preve n t th e reader fro m wasti n g ti m e over obscu r e

a n d i n accu rate passages a n d to s uggest m aterial f o r collateral
,

readi n g .

A n e ffor t has bee n m ade to pres e n t al o n g wi th th e m e m oi rs

a brief h istorical acco u n t o f the vari ou s m odes o f e x peri m e n t
u sed f o r fin di n g t h e m ea n specifi c gravity o f th e earth an d a ,

tabl e o f res ults is added As th e literat u re o n th e s ubj ect

.

before t h e prese n t ce n t u ry i s n o t al ways easily obtai n able th e ,

treat m e n t o f th e m atter f o r t h at peri od i s gi ve n in co m para

t ive ly greater d etail . Believi n g th at a bi bliography co n ta in
in g every i m porta n t refere n ce to the su bj ect is an esse n tial
feat ure o f a work of t h is ki n d th e editor has e n deavou red to
,

m ake h i m self fa m iliar wit h t h e wh ole o f th e very e x te n sive

li teratu re relati n g to it an d accord i n gly is fai rly co n fid e n t
,

that n o i m porta n t m e m oir has escaped h is observati o n Fro m .

t h e m ass o f m aterial t h u s collected th e bibliograp h y give n at

th e e n d o f th e vol u m e h as bee n co m piled In ord er to keep .

wi t h i n t h e li m i ts of space assig n ed so m e refe re n ces had to

,

be o m itted b u t they relate m ai n ly to rece n t work an d i t i s

, ,

believed th at th ey co n tai n n ot h i n g o f i m porta n ce .

N o e ff ort has bee n m ade to deal wi th t h e m ath e m atical side

o f th e subj ect ; accordi n gly t h e m e m oi rs o f Laplac e L ege n d re , ,

Ivory etc wh ic h dea l wi t h th e fi n di n g o f th e m ea n specific

, .
,

gravity o f t h e earth by m ea n s o f a n alytical m eth ods are n o t

referred to ; b u t i t is h oped t h at al l the m ore i m porta n t e x
im n tal i n vestigatio n s h ave bee n tou ched u po n
p e r e .

A . STA N L E Y M A C K E N ZIE .

BRYN MA WB, O ctober , 189 9 .

vii
 i

H ISTO R Y O F TH E SU BJE CT
B E FO R E TH E
A P P E A R A N CE OF N E WTO N S ’
PR IN C IPIA

DR . co n tribu ti o n s to th e spec ulati o n s o n gr a vi ta

G IL B E R T
’
S

tio n are a m o n g th e m ost i m port an t o f th e e a rly w ri ti n gs o n th at

subj e ct al th ough to Kepl e r al so m u st cred it be give n f o r a
,
)
d eep i n sigh t i t o its n at u r e ; t h e latter a n n o u n ces in h is i n tro
n

d u cti o to t h e A s tr on omin N ova p u blish ed in 1 6 09 h is belief

n , ,

in th e p e r f e ct reciprocity o f th e ac t i o of gr a vi tatio n a n d m i ts n ,

applicati o n to th e wh ol e m aterial u n iv e s e Gilber t w a s led by 1 .

hi s r e search e s o n m ag e ti s m to the co n cl usi o n th a t th e forc e o f

n

gravi ty was d u e to th e m ag n etic prop e rti es o f th e e a rth ; a n d

i 1 6 0 0 a n ou n c e d
n n I 21 ] h i s opi n i o n th at bodies wh e n r e
,

m ov e d to a gre a t di sta n ce fro m th e earth would gr a d u a lly lose

th e i r m otio n d ow n wards T h e e arl iest proposal s w e fin d for
.

i n vestig a ti n g wh e th er su ch ch a ges occu r in t h e force o f gravi ty

n

ar e i nt h e works o f Fra n ci s B a co n [ 2 N ov O r g II 3 6 an d , . .
, ,

H is t N a t I
. . H e m ai n tai n ed th a t thi s f orce d ecre ased
,

both in wai ds an d ou tward s fro m th e su rface o f th e e m th an d /

suggested e x peri m e n ts to t e st h i s vie ws H e wo ul d t ak e two .

cl ocks o n e actu ated by weigh ts an d th e oth er b y th e co m pres

,

si o n o f an iro n spri n g an d r e gulate th e m so th at th e y woul d

,

r u n at th e sa m e rat e Th e cl ock act u ated b y weigh ts was th e n

.

to be p l aced at th e top o f so m e h igh steepl e an d at th e botto m ,

of a m i n e an d i ts r a t e a t each pl a ce co m p a r e d with th at o f th e
,

oth er wh i ch re m ai n ed at th e surface Th ere is n o r e cord o f

, . .

a n y tri al o f th e e x p e ri m e n t a t th a t t i m e .

FA f te r th e f o u d i n g of t h e R oyal Soci e ty o f L o n d o n a s t im u
n

l u s was giv e n to e xp e 1 im e n t in g u po n th is as u po n m a n y oth er

'

The n u m be r s c
in b r a k e ts r e fe r t o t h e B ib l io g l
'

a ph y '
 t s.
s

sth ipap er mas

t
s ubj ects fefi
ad {be fp r e t h a t s o c l e ty by D r Po w er
‘

. .

[ 1 0 ,vol 1 p . 1 3 3 ] o n Dece m ber

, . upo n
“
Su bter r an eou s
E x pe ri m e n ts A pou n d weigh t an d 6 8 yard s o f t h re a d
.

were p u t i n to o n e p an of a sc al e an d cou n terpoised Th e .

w e igh t was th e n l ow e red i n to a p it an d attach ed by m ea n s o f

th e th read to th e scale p an h eld di rectly ov e r th e m ou t h of th e
-

pit i t w a s fou n d to l ose in weigh t by at least an ou n ce Th ree .

*

weeks later H ooke [ 1 0 v o l 1 p 1 6 3 ] m ade a report to th e , .

, .

society o n so m e e x peri m e n ts h e had perfor m ed at West m i n st e r

Abbey Th e report i s worth repri n ti n g as givi n g so m e id ea
.
,

o f th e m e t h od e m pl oyed in s u ch e x p e ri m e n ts a n d o f th e state ,

o f k n owledge upo n t h e su bj ect at th e ti m e w h e n N ew to n fi rst

took i t u p Fo r i t will be re m e m bered that i t was in 1 6 6 5 that

T
,

N e w tO If w as led by h is spec ul a ti o n s o n gravity to i m agi n e that

si n ce th is acti o n d i d n o t s e n si bly d i m i n ish wi t h s m al l ch a n ges
in h eigh t i t m igh t perhaps e x te n d t o th e m oo n an d b e th e
, ,

cause o f th at body s bei n g retai n ed in h er orbi t P u rsui n g h is

’
.

trai n o f th o ugh t h e e x te n ded th is e x pl a n a tio n t o th e s u n an d

, ,

pl an e t s ; an d t a ki n g i n to co n si deratio n Kepl er s laws i t was

,
’

t h refore n ecessary th at th e force m ust fall o ff in th e i n vers e

e

rati o o f th e squa re of th e d ista n c e Whe n applyi n g this law of .

decrease f ro m t h e e ar t h to th e m oo n N e wto n u sed in de du c ,

in g t h e l e g t h o f th e radi us o f th e earth th e rough es t i m ate

n ,

th e n cu rr e n t of 6 0 m iles to a degr e e o f l ati tu d e i n s t ead o f

, ,

n e a rly 6 9 2 an d as a co n seque n ce th e cal culated m otio n o f th e

1
7

m oo n did n o t agree wi th th e observed m otio n He th e re upo n .

laid asi de for th e ti m e b i n g an y fu rth e r th o ught upo n th e e

'

m atter His atte n ti o n was ag ai n c alled to th e su bj ec t by a

.

letter fro m Hooke in 1 6 79 an d Picard havi n g in th e m ea n ti m e , ,

m easu red th e e a rth N ewto n was able to pply the correct d a ta

, a

to th e proble m an d to arri ve at a b e au ti f ul agree m e n t o f th e

cal cul a ted wi th th e obs e rv e d b e h a vi ou r o f t h e m oo n Fro m .

th at ti m e dat e th e wo n d e rfu l research es wh ich w e re th e f o un da

tio n o f t h e P r in c ip ia T h e f ol lowi n g i s H o o ke s r e p ort
.
’

I pros e cu t io of m y L ord V e r u l a m s e x peri m e n t co n cer n

’
n n

in g t h e d e creas e o f gr a vi ty th e f a r t h e r a body is r e m o v ed b e ,

l o w t h e surfac e o f th e e arth I m a de trial wh eth er an y su ch ,

'

di ffere n ce in th e weigh t o f b od i e s cou l d be fou n d by th ei r

d
A c c o r in g to L e Sag e D e s ar t e s h ad s u g g e s te c d a s im i a r l u d n er

t ak in g t w e n ty dv e ye ar s e a r l ie r in a l e t te r t o M e r s e n n e
-

2
 THE LA WS O F G R A V IT A T IO N

n e a rer o r f arther re m oval fro m that su rface u pwards T o th is .

e n d I t ook a p a i r o f e x a c t sc a les a d weigh ts an d w e n t to a n ,

co n ve n ie n t pl a c e u po n We st m i n st r Abb y wh ere was a per e e ,

p e n d ic u l a r h eigh t above the leads o f a subjace n t b u il di n g ,

wh ich by m e a su re I f o u n d th reescor e a n d eleve n foot Here .

co u n terpoisi n g a piece o f i ro n ( w h ich weigh ed abou t 1 5 ou n c e s

troy ) a n d p a ckthr e a d e n oug h to re a ch f ro m t h e top to th e bot
t o m I fou n d th e co u n terpoise to b e o f t roy weigh t seve n tee n
,
-

o u n ces an d th irty grai n s T h e n le t ti n g dow n th e i ro n by th e

. .

th re a d till i t al m ost to uch ed th e subj ace n t l eads I tried wh at

, ,

a l teratio n t h ere had h a ppe n ed to i ts weigh t an d fou n d th at , ,

th e i ro n pre p o n de ra ted th e for m er cou n terpoise so m ewh t m ore a

t h an t e n gr i n sa Th e n d rawi n g u p t h e i ro n an d th read wi th
.

al l th e dilige n ce possibly I coul d th at it m igh t n eith e r get n o r ,

lose an y th i n g by to u chi n g the perpe n d icu lar wall I fou n d by ,

p utti n g t h e i ro n a n d p a ckth r e ad agai n i n to its scal e that it ,

kept its last equilibri u m ; an d th ere f ore c o n c l u de d th at i t h ad t

n o t received a n se n sibl e di ff ere n c e o f weigh t f ro m i ts n e a r n ess

y
to o r di sta n ce fro m th e ear t h I repeated th e tri a l in th e s am
. e

place bu t fou n d th at i t h a d n o t al t e red i ts eq ilibri u m ( as i

, ,
u n

th e first tri al ) n ei th er at th e botto m n o r after I h ad d raw n i t ,

u p agai n w h i ch m ad e m e guess th a t th e first prepo n der a ti n g ,

o f th e scale was f ro m t h e m oisture o f t h e ai r o r th e li ke th a t , ,

had s tu ck to t h e stri n g an d so m ad e i t h eavier In p u rsua n ce

, .

o f th is e x peri m e n t I re m oved to a o t h e r place o f th e Abbey

,
n ,

th a t was j ust th e sa m e dista n ce fro m th e grou n d th a t the for ,

m e r was f ro m the l eads ; an d u po repeati n g th e trial th e re

n

with the for m er dilige n ce I fo u n d n o t an y se n sibl e a ltera ti o n

,

o f th e e quilibriu m ei th er before or a f ter I h ad draw n i t u p ;

,

wh ich farth er co n fir m ed m e t h at th e fi rst al tera tio n proceeded

,

fro m so m e oth er accide n t an d n o t fro m the difi e r in g gravity o f

,

th e sa m e body .

“
I th i n k th erefore it were very desirabl e f ro m th e de te r m i ,

n atio n o i D r Power s trials wh erei n h e fo u n d s uch di ffere n ce

’
.
,

o f weigh t th at it w ere e x a m i n e d by su ch as h av e o p p o r tu ity

, l
n ,

first w hat d iffer e n ce tlie r e is in th e d e n si ty an d press u re o f

,

th e air an d wh at o f that co n de n s a tio n of gravity m ay be as

,

c r ib e d to th e diff e ri n g d e grees o f h eat a n d col d at th e t o p

a n d botto m wh ich m ay be easi ly tried with a co m m o n weath e r

,

glass an d a s e al e d u p th er m o m et e r ; f o r th e th er m o m eter wil l

-

shew what o f th e cha n ge is to be ascribed to h eat an d col d ,

3
 ME M O IR S O N

an d th e we a t h er glass wil l sh ew t h e differi n g co n d e n sati o n .

N e x t f o t h e k owi n g w h e th e r th is a
, r l ter ti o n of g a v ity pro
n ,
a 1

cecd fro m th e de n sity a n d gra vity of th e am bi e n t a i t wou ld i1 ,

b e r e quisi te to m a ke u s e f so m e v e ry ligh t body e x te n ded o ,

i n to large di m e si o n s su ch a a l a rg e gl ob e o f glass carefully

n ,
s

stopt th t n o a ir m y g e t in or ou t ; f or if th e a l teratio n
,
a a

proceeded f ro m th e m ag etic al attr a ctio n o f th e parts o f t h e n .

e a rth th e ball will l os e bu t a si x t ee n t h p a rt Of i ts w e igh t ( sup

,

posi g a l u m p o f glass h e l d th e s a m e proportio n th a t D r

n , .

Pow e r f ou n d in bra ss ) ; bu t if i t proc e e d f ro m th e d e n i ty o f s

th e air it m a y lose h al f or perhaps m ore F ur th e r it wer e

, , .
,

very desireabl e that the c u rre n t O f t h e a ir in th at pl ac e wer

,
e

observed as Sir R ober t Moray i n ti m ated th e l a st day Fou rth

, .

ly I th i n k it were worth tri l to cou n terpoi se a ligh t an d h eavy

,
a

body o n e ag a i n st a oth er above a n d to c a rry d ow n th e scales n ,

a n d th e m to th e bo t to m a n d observ e wh a t h appe n s Fifthly , .

,

it w e re d esi re a bl e th at trials w e r e m a d e by th e letti n g d ow n o f

, ,

oth e r bo t h h eavier an d ligh te r bodies as lead q u icksil ver gold , , , ,

sto n es w ood li q u ors a n i m al substa n ces an d th e like Si x t h ly

, , , , .
,

i t were to be wish e d t h a t trial w ere m a de h o w th at gra v itati o n

,

do e s de crease wi th tl desce n t o f t h e bod y th at 1 s by m aki n g i1 —

,

tri al h o w m u ch th e body r o w s ligh ter at e very te n 0 1 twe n ty

,
O
b
'

f oot dista n ce Th ese trials if a ccu rately m ad e w oul d aff m d

.
, ,

a great h el p to gu ess at th e cau se of th is s tra n g e p h ae n o m

e n on .
”

D r Pow er s e x peri m e n t was repea ted by D r C otto n an d an

.
’
.
,

acco u n t of h is trials was gi v e n to th e Socie ty o n Ju n e 1 1 6 6 4 ,

vo l 1 p Th e weigh t was b n d th e le n gt h o f th e
[ 1 0 , .
,
.
4 1 a .
,

stri n g 3 6 y a rds A l oss in weigh t o f 4 o w a s fou n d

. z . .

O n Septe m ber 1 1 6 6 4 [ 6 vol 5 p we fin d a refere n ce

, ,
.
, .

to so m e e x peri m e n ts m ade at St Paul s Cath edral by a c o m .

’

m it te e of th e R oyal Society co n sisti n g o f Sir R Mor a y D r .

, .

Wilki s D r Goddard Mr Pal m er M r Hill an d Mr H ooke

n ,
.
, .
, . . “

Th e resul ts o f th ese e x peri m e n ts were give n to th e Society o n

Septe m ber 1 4 1 6 6 4 [ 1 0 v o l 1 p 46 6 ] , th e weigh t was 1 5 lbs ,
.
, . .

troy th e stri n g abou t 200 f t l o n g an d th e loss o f w e igh t l

,
.
,
'

d rach m In a letter to Mr Boyle [ 6 vol 5 p

. dated .
, .
, ,
.

Septe m ber 1 5 th Mr Hooke gives m ore d etails an d re m arks

, .
,

that th e bala n ce was se n siti ve e n ough to be tu r n ed by a few

grai n s H e suggests th e variatio n o f th e de n si ty o f t h e air as
.

th e cause o f th e loss in w eigh t Boyle [ 1 0 v ol 1 p 470] pro .

, .
, .

4
 TH E L A WS O F G RA V I T AT I O N

posed th at H o ok e s suggesti o n be t e sted by m aki g th e su s

’
n

p e ded w e igh t o f a l a rge gl a ss b al l lo ad e d wi th m e rcury

n .

At a m e e ti n g o f th e R oy a l Soci e ty o n M a rc h 1 4 1 6 6 5 Hoo k e , ,

report e d [ 1 0 v ol 2 p 6 6 an d 6 vol 5 p 5 44] th a t h e h ad

,
.
,
.
, ,
.
, .

tried D r Pow e r s e x peri m e n t a t so m e wells n e a r E pso m a n d

.
’

h a d f ou n d n l oss in w eigh t
-

o Si m il a r e x p e ri m e n ts w e r e m a d e .

by Hook e t B an st e ad Dow n s i Su rr y a d r e port e d 0

a ,
n e , n 11

M a rch 21 1 6 6 6 [ 1 0 v o l 2 p 6 9
, d 6 v ol 5 pp 3 55 an d
, .
, .
, an , .
, .

Th e stri g was 3 3 0 f t l o n g a n d th e b al an ce se n si tiv e

n .
,

t a grai
o yet a pou d sh e w e d n ch a n g e in weigh t wh e n
n ,
n o

p e ded a t th e bot t o m o f t h e w e ll H e co n cl u d e s th a t th e
n .

power o f gra vi ty c an n ot b e m ag e ti c al as Gilbert had su p n ,

posed He s ays : Bu t in tru th upo n th e co n i dera ti o n o f th e

. s

n atu re o f th e t h eory w e m ay fin d th a t su pp si n g i t tru e that

, ,
o ,

all t h e co n sti tu n t par t s o f th e earth h a d a m ag n etical pow e r

e ,

th e decrease o f gra vi ty wo ul d be al m os t a h u n d red t i m e s l ess

th an a grai n to a pou d a t as gr e a t a de p th as fi f ty fa th o m n ,

f r if w e co n sid er th e proportio
o o f t h e parts o f th e e art h n

plac e d po n o e si d e be e a t h the sto n e wi th th e p a rts o n th e

u n n ,

o t h r sid e a bov e it w m ay fi d t h e dispropor ti o n gre a ter

e , e n .

U less we su ppose th e m ag n e tis m o f t h e par t s to act bu t a t a

n

v e ry l it tle d ist an c e wh i ch I thi n k t h e e x peri m e n ts m ad e in t h e

,

Abb e y an d St Paul s w ill o t al lo w f If th er e for e th er e be

.
’
n o .

a y su ch
n i n e qu al i ty f gravi ty w e m u st h ave so m e w ays o f o ,

trial m uch m r e accu r a t e th an th is of scales f wh ich I sh all

o ,
o

propou n d tw o sorts etc It i s i n t e r e sti n g to n o t i c e th a t th e

,
”
.

co n sid e rati o s u po wh ich h e m ak e s h is co m pu t ati o n s ar e p r ac

n n

ti c ally t h os e u sed by Ai ry i h i s Harto n C olliery e x peri m e t n n .

O n D e c e m ber 7 1 6 8 1 [ 1 0 v o l 4 p , Hook e prod u c e d , .

, .

b e f or e t h e s ciety two pe n d u l u m cl ocks a dj ust e d to u n at th e

o -

sa m e rat e H e p ropos e d to p u t o e at th e top a d th e oth er

. n n

a t th e botto m o f t h e m o u m e n t o n Fish Street H ill an d o h n ,

s e rv e wh e th e r th ey w ou ld ke e p tog th e r N o n otice f h is e . o

h a vi n g tri e d th e x p e i m e n t h as bee n fo d T h is is t h e
e r un .

m e th od proposed by Baco a n d u s e d by Bougue a d ma y n r n n

oth ers .

In 1 6 8 2 Hooke read befor e th R oy l Society

,
“
A Discou rs e e a

of th e N at u re o f C o m e ts [ 4 pp 1 49 in wh ich h e gi v es
”
,
.

h is ideas o the s ubj e c t o f gra vi ty ( partic ularly o n pag e s 1 70

n

H e co n sid e rs gravi ty to be a u n iv e rs a l pri n cipl e in ,

h ere n t in a ll m a t ter prop ag at d by th e s a m e m edi u m as th a t

,
e

5
 ME MO IRS O N TH E L A WS O F G R AV I TA T I O N

by m ea n s o wh ich ligh t i s co n veyed w i t h u n i m agi abl e celer

f ,
n

ity to i n defi n i tely gr e at dista n ce s a d wi t h a power varyi n g

, , n

wi th th e di sta n ce H e su m s u p hi s co n cepti o n s o n gravi tatio n

.

in n i e proposi ti o n s wh i ch ar e of great i n terest in th at th ey

n , ,

i n cl ud e m a n y o f th e co n ceptio n s of Newto n o n t h is subj ect ,

t l l d yet were p ublished fou r years before t h e P r i n cip i a ap

r e d.
p ea
6
 P H IL O SO P H IA E N A T U RAL I S P R I N C I P I A
M A TH E M A T I CA
L o n do n 1 6 87 2d E d i tio n Ca m br i dg e 1 71 3 Cotes E di tion )
’
l s t Ed i tion ,
.
, ,
.

3 d E d ition L o n do n 1 726 ( Pem be r ton s E di tion )

’

, ,

AND

D E M U N D I SYSTE M A TE
Lo n do n , 1 727

SIR I SAAC N E WT O N

( E x tr c
a ts ta ken f r om D aw es E d i tion of M o tte s tr a
’
n s l a tion
3 volu m es , Lo n do n , 1 803 )
 CO NTE NTS

O n the a ttr a c ti on o f sp h er es

V ar ia tion of g r a r itg o n th e ea r th s su r a e
’

f c
c
A l l a ttra tio n is m u tu a l
M eth ods f
o s h o w i ng the a ttr ac tion betwee n ter r es tr ia l bodies .

P r oof f
o i ts ex is te n e c
Sim ila r dis c u s sio n f or the c f
ase o cl
e es tia l bod ies
Fi n a l sta temen ts c on cer n i ng the la ws f
o g r a vi ta tion

8
 TH E M A TH E M A T I CAL P R I N C I P L ES
N A T URAL PH I L O S OPH Y
AND

SYSTEM OF TH E WO R L D

SIR ISAAC NE WT O N

BO O K 1 . PRO P O SITI O N L XX IV . T H E O R E M X X X IV .

Th e s a me to t h e s e ver l poi ts f a give

th in gs s up p os ed ( if a n o n

sph e r e th er e te n d q u l c e n tripet al f o c o s d e cr e si g i a d u
e a 1 a n n

plicat e ra ti o o f th e d ist an ces f o m t h e th a t a cor

1

p a s e le s i t u a te w ith ou t th e sp h er e is a ttr acted w ith a f or c e r ec i

p
r oca l ly p r op or tion a l to th e s q u ar e f
o its dis ta n ce f r om th e
ce n tr e .

BO O K I . PRO P O SITI O N L XX V . T H E O R E M XXX V .

If to th e p f g
s ever a l i v e n sp h
oi n ts o
er e th er
a e ten d eq u a l c en

tr ip eta l f or ces dec r ea s in g i n a d up lica te r a tio of th e d is ta n ces

om th e p oin ts I s ag th a t a n oth er s im i la r sp h er e w i l l be a ttr a c t
fr ,

ed by i t wi th a f or c e r ecip r oca l ly p r op or ti on a l to th e s q u a r e of th e

d is ta n ce of th e cen tr es .

Fo r t h e attracti o n o f e very p a rticle is reciprocally as th e

sq uare o f i ts dist an ce f ro m th e ce n t re o f th e attracti n g sph ere
( by prop an d i s th erefore th e sa m e a s if th a t wh ol e a t
.

tracti n g force i ssued f ro m o n e si n gl e corp uscle placed in t h e

c e n tre o f th is sph ere B ut this attra ctio n i s as gr e at as o n th e
.

other h a n d t h e attractio n of th e sa m e corpu scle would b e if ,

th at wer e i tsel f attracted by th e s e veral particles o f th e a ttract

ed spher e w ith th e sa m e force wi th wh ich th ey are attr a cted by
9
 MEMO IRS O N

i t Bu t that attrac t i o n of th e corpuscle w o ul d be ( by prop 74)

. .

reciprocal ly propor t i o n a l to th e s q u a re o f i ts d ista n ce f ro m th e

ce n tre of th e sph e re ; th e r e f or e t h e attractio n f th e sph ere o ,

equal th ereto is al so in th e sa m e rati o

, Q E D . . . .

C or 1 Th e attractio n s o f sph er e s t oward s oth er h o m oge n e

. .

o u s sph eres a r e a s th e attracti n g sph eres applied to th e squares

o f th e dista n ces of th e i r ce n tres fro m th e ce n tres o f th os e

wh i ch t h ey a t tract .

C or 2 T h e c as e i s th e sa m e wh e n th e attracted sph ere does

'

. .

al so attract For th e sever al poi n ts o f th e o n e attract t h e sev

.

e r a l poi n ts o f t h e o t h er with t h e sa m e force with w h ich they

th m selves are attr a cted by th e others agai n ; a n d th erefore

e

si n ce in all attractio n s ( by l aw 3 ) th e attracted an d attracti n g

p oi n t are both equ a lly act e d o n th e force will be doubled by ,

t h e i r m u tual attrac tio n s th e p po ti o n s re m ai n i n g

, ro r .

r op os iti on L XX VI p r oves th e h er es m a de
[ P . s am e th ing f or Sp

u
p fo h om og en eou s c o n c e n tr i c l a e r s
y ]

BO O K III . PRO P O SIT I O N V . T HE O RE M V . SO H O LI U M .

Th e f orc e wh i ch retai n s th e celestial bodies in th ei r orbi ts

has bee n h i th erto called ce n tripetal force ; b u t i t bei n g n o w
m ad e pl ai n th a t i t c an be n o oth er tha n a gr a vi tati n g f orc e ,

we sh al l h erea f ter call i t gravi ty For th e c a us e o f t hat c e n .

t ip e tal force wh ich retai n s t h e m oo n in i ts orbi t wi ll e x t e n d

r

i tself to al l th e pla n ets .

B o o x III . PRO P O SI T I O N VI . T H E O R E M VI .

Th a tbodies g r a v ita te tow ar ds ever y p la n et ; an d th a t th e

a ll

w eig h ts of bodies tow a r ds a n y th e sa m e p la n et a t eq u a l d is ta n ces ,

r om th e cen tr e of th e p la n et a r e p r op or ti on a l to th e q u a n titi es
f ,

of m a tter w h i ch th ey s ev er a l ly c on ta in .

It has bee n n o w o f a l o n g t i m e observe d by oth ers that al l

, , ,

sorts o f h eavy bodies (all owa n ce bei n g m ad e f o r th e i n e quali ty

of ret a rdatio n wh i c h t hey su ff er fro m a s m all pow e r o f resist
a n c e in th e air ) desce n d to th e earth f r om eq u a l h eights in
equal ti m es ; a n d th at eq uality o f ti m es we m ay disti n guish tO .
'

a great accu racy by th e h elp of pe n d u lu m s I tried th e th i n g

, .

in gold si lver l ead glass sa n d co m m o n sal t wood water

, , , , , , , ,

an d wh eat I provid ed tw o wood e n bo x es rou n d an d e q ual ;

.
,

10
 TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N
I

I filled th e o n e wit h wood an d su spe n ded an equ al weigh t of ,

gold ( as e x ac tly as I cou l d ) in th e c e n tre o f oscillati o of th e n

oth er Th e bo x es h a n gi n g by equal th read s o f 1 1 f e e t m ade a

.

coupl e o f pe n d ul u m s per f e ctly equ al in weigh t an d figu re a n d ,

equ al ly receivi n g t h e resis t a n ce of th e air A n d placi n g th e .

,

o n e by th e other I obs e rve d th e m t o play togeth e r forw a r ds

,

an d back wards f o r a l o n g ti m e , wi t h equal vibratio n s , .

an d th e l ik e h appe n ed in th e oth er bodies By th ese e x p e r i .

m e n ts in bodies of t h e sa m e w e igh t I co uld m a n ifestly h ave

, ,

discov e red a d i ffere n ce o f m atter l e ss th a n th e th ousa n d th part

of th e wh ole had an y su ch bee n B ut wi th ou t all doubt th e
, .
, ,

n atu re o f gravi ty toward s th e pla n ets is th e s a m e as towards

th e earth Moreove r si n ce th e satelli tes o f J upi t er per

.
,

f or m th eir revol uti o n s in ti m es wh i ch obse rve th e sesq uiplic a te

proportio n o f th ei r d ista n ces fro m Ju pi t e r s ce n tre th ei r acc e l ’
,

e r a tiv e graviti e s to ward s J u pi ter will be reciprocally as th e

squ ares o f th eir di sta n ces f ro m Jupi ter s ce n tre th at is equ a l ’
—
,

at equal dista n ces A n d therefore these sat e ll i t es if sup

.
, , ,

posed to f all towa r ds Jup iter f ro m eq ual h eigh ts wo ul d d escribe ,

equ al sp aces in e qual ti m es in l ik e m a n n er as h e a vy bodies d o

,

o n o ur earth If at e qua l dist a n ces f ro m t h e s u n a n y sat

, ,

e l l ite in propor ti o n to t h e q ua n ti ty of its m a tt e r d id gravi tate

, ,

toward s t h e s u n wi t h a f orc e gre a ter t h a n J upi t e r in propor

t i o n to h is accor d i n g to an y give n proportio n su ppose of d to
, ,

e ; th e n t h e d is ta n ce betwee n t h e ce n tres o f t h e s u n a n d of th e

satelli te s orbi t would b e a lways greater th an t h e dista n ce be

’

t w e e n th e c e n tres o f th e s u n a n d o f J u pi te r n e a rly in th e sub

d upli cate o f th at proporti o as by so m e co m p u tatio n s I h ave
n

fou n d A n d if the s a t e llite did gravi tate tow a rd s th e s u n

.

w ith a forc e lesser in th e proportio o f e to d th e d ist an c e of

,
n ,

the ce n tre o f th e s a tellit e s orbit fro m th e s u wo ul d be less

’
n

th a n th e distan ce o f the ce n tre o f J u pi t er fro m the s u n in th e

subd upl icate o f th e sa m e p roporti o n Th ere fore if at eq ual .
,

di st an ces f ro m th e s u n t h e a ccele rative gravity of a n y s a te ll

,

i te toward s th e s u n were greater or less th an th e acc e lerati ve

gravi ty o f J upi te r to wards the s u n bu t by o e “7 p art o f th e n
1—
0 0

wh ol e gravity th e dista n ce o f th e ce n tre of t h e satell ite s orbit

,
’

fro m the s u n wo u l d be greater o r l e ss tha n t h e d ista n ce o f Ju

piter fro m th e s u n by o n e 9 61“ part of t h e wh ol e d ista n ce —

that is by a fi f th part o f t h e d ista c e o f t h e u t m ost s a telli t e

, n

fro m th e ce n tre o f Jupi ter ; an e cce n trici ty o f t h e orbit wh ic h

11
 MEMO IRS O N

wou l d be very se n sibl e B u t th e orbits o f th e s atel l ite s are .

co n ce n tri c to J upi te r an d th eref o re t h e accelerative gravi ties

,

of Jupi te r an d o f l l i ts satellites towards th e s un are equal

,
a ,

a m o n g t h e m sel ves .

B u t fu rth er ; th e w eigh ts of all th e parts o f every plan et

toward s an y oth e r pla et are o n e to a n oth er as th e m atter in
n

th e several parts ; f o r if so m e parts did gravi tate m ore o t h e rs ,

l ess th a n for th e q ua n ti ty o f th ei r m a t ter th e n th e wh ol e

, ,

pla n et accord i n g to th e sort o f parts wi th wh ich i t m ost

,

a bou n d s w ou ld gr a vitate m ore or less th a n in proporti o n t o

,

the qu an t i ty of m atter in th e wh ol e N o r i s it o f a n y m o m e n t .

wh eth e r th ese p a rts are e x te r n al o i n ter n al f o r i f f o r e xa m r ,

p l e, w e sh o ul d i m agi n e t h e t e rrestrial bo d ies wi th u s to be .

r ai sed u p to th e orb o f th e m oo n to be th ere co m pared wi th ,

i ts body ; if th e weigh ts of su ch bod ies were to th e weigh t s o f

t h e e x ter n al par ts o f th e m oo n as th e qua n ti ti es o f m atter in
th e o n e an d in th e oth e r respecti vely ; b u t to th e w eigh ts o f
th e i n ter n a l parts in a gr e ater or l ess proportio n th e n l i k e wise ,

th e w eigh ts of th ose bodi es wou ld be to t h e weigh t o f t h e

wh ol e m oo n in a greater o r l ess proporti o n agai n st what w e
h ave s h o w e d a bove .

C or 1 H e n ce th e weigh ts o f bodies d o n o t depe n d upo n

. .

th e i r f or m s a n d te x tu res f o r i f th e weigh ts coul d be altered

with t h f or m s t h ey woul d be greater or less accordi n g to th e
e , ,

vari e ty o f f o m s in equal m atter ; al togeth er agai st e x perie n ce

r , n .

C or 2 U n i versally all bodi e s abou t t h e e a r th g a vi tate

. .
, r

t owar d s th e earth a n d the w eigh ts o f a l l at equal dist an c e s ,

f r o m t h e e arth s c e n tre a r e as th e qua n titi es o f m atter wh ich

’
,

th y sev e ral ly co n tai

e T h i s i s th e qu li ty o f al l bodi e s with i n
“
n . a

th e reach o f o u r e x p eri m e n ts an d t h ere f ore ( by rule 3 ) to be

a ff i m ed o f all bodies wh a tsoever
r .

C or 5 Th e power o f gra vity i s o f a di ff ere n t n atu re fro m th e

. .

power of m ag etis m f o th e m ag n etic a ttractio n is n o t a s th e

n r .

m att e r attract e d So m e bodies are at t r a cted m ore by th e

.

m ag n t ; oth ers l e ss ; m ost bod i e s n o t at all

e T h e power o f .

m g n e t is m in o n e an d t h e sa m e body m ay be i n cre s d an d
a a e

d i m i n i sh ed a n d is so m eti m es f a r stro n g e r for t h e qua n ti ty o f ,

m atter t h a n t h power o f gr a vity

, e a n d in recedi n g f ro m t he

m ag n e t d cre s e s n o t in th e d upl ica t e but al m ost in t h e tri

e a

pl icate proportio o f t h e dist an ce as n early as I could j u dge

n ,

f ro m so m e rud e observ a tio n s .

12
 w So F AV I TATIO
'

T HE LA G R N

BO O K III . PRO P O SITI ON VII . T H E O R E M VII .

Th a t th er e is a p ow er o f g r a v it y ten d i n g to a l l bodi es , p r o

i n al ev e r a l i i
'

p o r t o to t q u a n t t es of m a tter w h ich th ey c on ta i n .

Th a t al l th ts m u tu lly gra vi t t e o n e to ward s a n oth e r

an e a a ,

we h a ve be f or e ; a s wel l a s that the f orc e o f g ra vity

'

tow ards e s id e r e d apart i s r e ciproc a lly a s ,

plac e s fro m t h e ce n tr e o f th e
( by prop 6 9 book I n d i ts corollaries
.
, ) , a

a v it
y t n di n g to
r w ards a ll th
e e pla n ets 1 s

to th e m tt e r wh ich t h ey co n tai n
a .

si n ce all th e p a r ts of a n y pl an et A gravitate to
a n y ot h e r pla n et B ; a n d t h e g ra vi ty of every p a rt i s t o
’

av ity o f th e wh ole a s t h e m a t t er of t h e part t o th e m a t ter

wh ole ; a n d ( by law 3 ) to ev e ry actio n correspo n ds an

equal r e acti o n th ere f ore the pl a n e t B wi ll o n t h e o t h er h a n d , ,

gravitate to w a rds all the parts f th e pl a n e t A an d i ts gravi ty o

towards an y o n e part w ill be to t h e gra vi ty tow ards th e wh ol e

as th e m atter o f th e p ar t to th e m atter of th e wh ol e Q E D . . . .

Cor 1 T h ere f ore th e f o r c e o f gra vi ty to ward s a n y wh ole

. .

pla e t aris e s f ro m an d is co m pou n de d o f t h e f orces o f gravity

n , ,

tow a rds all its parts Mag n etic an d electric a ttrac t i o s aff ord
. n

li s e x a m ples o f th is f o r all a t tractio n to w ard s th e w h ol e arises

f ro m t h e attractio n s towards th e several parts T h e th i n g m ay .

be easily u n derstood in gravi t y if we co n sid er a great e r pl a n e t ,

as f or m ed o f a n u m ber o f lesser pla n e t s m ee ti n g together in

o n e globe f o r h en ce it w ou ld ap p ea r th a t th e force o f t h e wh ole
m u st arise fr m t h e f orces o f t h e co m po n e n t p a rts
o If i t is .

obj ected tha t accord i n g to th is law a ll bod ies wi th us m ust

, ,

m u tually gravit a t e o n e towards a n oth er I a swer that Si n ce ,

n ,

th e gravi tatio n to ward s th ese bodies is to th e gravit a tio n to

wards th e wh ole earth as th es e bodies are to t h e wh ole earth ,

th e gravitatio n to wards th e m m us t be f ar less tha n to f all u n der

t h observati o n o f o u r se n ses
e .

Cor 2 Th e force of gravity towards t h e several equ al par

. .

t ic l e s o f an y body is reciprocal ly as t h e squar e of th e dista n ce

o f places fro m th e particl e s ; a s appears f ro m cor 3 prop 74 .
,
.
,

book I .

[ Un der p r op os ition X occu r s th e f ollo w in g i mp or ta n t p a s s ag e ]

H owever th e pl an e t s h av e b een f o r ed wh il th y wer
m e e e ye t

in fl ui d m asses al l t h e h e a vi e r
,
m atter su bsid e d to th e ce n tre .

13
 MEMO I RS O N

Si n c e th ere f or e , th e co m m o n m atter
, of ou r earth o n th e su r
f ace th ereo f is abou t twic e a s h e av y as water an d a l i ttle lo wer , ,

in m i n e s is fo u n d abo u t th ree or f ou r or e v e n fi ve ti m es m or e
, , ,

he a vy i t i s probabl e t h at t h e q u an tit v o f th e wh ole m a t ter of

,

t h e art h m ay be fiv e or s ix ti m e s g e a ter th a n if i t co n sisted

e r

a ll o f wat e r
*
.

[ Un d er r
p p e os i t io n s X VII] a n d X IX N e w ton p r.ov es th at .
,

th e a x es of th e p la n ets a r e les s th a n th e dia m eter s dr a w n p er p en

d icu la r to th e a x es H e s h ow s h ow cen tr if uga l f or ce a c ts i n
.

deter m i n in g th e f or m th e
di ea r th , a n d
s cu s s es th e m ea s u r em en ts
f o

of ter r es tr ia l a r cs kn ow n a t th a t tim e ; h e dedu ces th er e r o m th a t

f
g r a v i ty w i l l be l es ie n ed a t th e e
q u a tor by w
i
g g f
o i ts elf a n d t h a t —
,

th e ear th w il l be h ig h er a t th e eq u a tor tha n a t th e p oles by

m iles ]

BO O K Il I. P RO P O SITI O N X X . PRO B L E M IV .

To fi nd a n d comp a r e tog eth er th e w eig h ts o f bodies in th e dif

f er e n i r eg i on s o f ou r ea r th .

Bec a u s e t h e weigh ts o f th e u n eq u a l legs o f th e ca n al o f water

A C Q q ca are e q ual a n d th e weigh ts o f t h e parts p roporti o n al

to th e wh o l e legs an d alike situated ,

in th e m a r e o n e to a n oth er as th e ,

weigh ts of th e w hol es an d th erefore ,

equ al bet w i x t th e m sel ves ; t h e we ig h t s

o f equal parts an d al i ke situated in ,

th e legs will b e reciproc ally as th e ,

legs that is r e ciprocally as 23 0 to —

,

229 A n d th e cas e i s th e sa m e in
.

all h o m oge n e ou s e qu al bodi e s alike

si tuated i t h e l egs o f t h e c an al n -
.

Th ei r w e igh ts a r e reciprocally as th e
l e gs th a t i s rec iprocally as the d is
—
,

ta n ces o f th e bodies f ro m t h e ce n tr o f th e e arth Th erefor e

,
e .
,

if the bodi es a e Situ a t e d in t h e u pp e r m ost parts o f th e ca n als

r ,

or o th e s u rf a ce o f t h e e a rth th e ir w e igh ts will be o n e to an

n ,

other re ciprocally as th e ir dista n c e s f ro m th e ce n tr A n d by e .

,

th e sa m e a rgu m e n t th e weigh ts in all oth er pl a ces ro u n d t h e

,

wh ol e su r f a c e of th e e a rt h are reciprocally as th e d is tan c e s o f

l

Th is wa s a w on derf u lly g ood g u ess o n N ew ton s p a r t, s i n e th e bes t of th e

’
c
la ter deter m i n a ti on s g ive a bou t f o r th e m ea n sp e ific g r a v i ty of he ea r th ]
t c
14
 THE L A WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

t h e pl aces f ro m th e ce n tre ; an d t h erefore in th e hypot h esi s , ,

of th e earth s bei n g a sph e roi d are give in proporti o n

’
,
n .

“
[ N ew t o n th e n s ta te s t h a t th e l en g th s of p en du l u m s v ibr a t ing

in eq ua l tim es a r e as th e f or c es of gr a v i ty h e e n u mer a tes th e

exp er im en ts on th e p er iods of p en du l u m s m a de a t d ijf er en t p a r ts

of th e ea r th s s u r a ce a n d tes ts h is c on c l u s ion s
’

f ,
.

Th e f ollowi ng r em a r ks app ea r on p p 20 25 of M otte s tr a n s la

’
—
.

“
tion of th e de M a n di Sys tema te w h er ein N ew ton af ter a
, ,

re f er en c e t o hi s p en d u l u m exp e r i m e n ts g i v e n on p 1 1 of thi
, s .

v ol u m e, s a s
y
Si n ce th e actio n of th e ce n tripetal force u po n th e b odies a t
tracted is , at e qu al dista n ces proporti o n al t o th e qua n ti ties o f
,

m atter in th ose bodies , reaso n requires that it sh oul d b e a l so

proporti o n al to th e qua n tity o f m a tt e r in th e body attracti n g .

Fo r al l a ctio n is m u tual an d ( by th e th ird l aw o f m otio n )

,

m akes th e bodi e s m u tua l ly to approac h on e to th e oth er an d ,

th erefore m u st be th e sa m e in both bodi es I t is tru e th at we .

m ay co n si der o n e body as a ttracti n g a n oth er a s attracted ; bu t ,

this d isti n ctio n i s m or e m a th e m a ti cal t h a n n atu r l Th e at a .

tractio n is really co m m o n o f e i th er to oth er an d th erefore of ,

th e sa m e ki n d in both .

A n d h e n ce i t is th a t th e attractive force is fou n d i bot h n .

Th e s u n attracts Ju pi t er an d th e oth er pla n ets ; J upi t er a t

tracts i ts satellit e s an d for th e sa m e reaso n t h e s ate lli tes ac t
, ,

as well o n e u po n a n oth er as u po n J u piter an d a ll th e pla n ets ,

m u tually o n e upo n a n oth er .

A n d th oug h th e m u tual cti o n s o f two pla n ets m ay be di s

a

tin g u is h e d an d co sid e red as two b y wh ich e ach attr a cts th e

n ,

oth er ye t a s th os e acti o n s are i n ter m e dia t e th ey d o n o t m a ke

, , ,

b u t o n e operati o n betwee n tw o ter m s T wo bodies m ay be .

m u tually attracted e ach to t h e oth er by th e co n tractio n of a

cord i n terpose d Th e re i s a d ou bl e cau s e o f actio n to wit th e
.
, ,

dispositio n o f both bo die S a s w e ll as a d ouble a cti o n in so f ar

'

as th e actio n i s co n sider d as u po n t wo bod ies

e b t a s b e twi x t u

t w o bodi e s i t is bu t o n e si gle o n e It i s n o t o e actio n by

n . n

wh ic h t h e s u n a ttracts J upi ter an d a n o th er by whi ch Ju pi ter

,

1 t t ac ts th e s u n ; b u t i t i s o n e a cti o n by wh i c h t h e s n an d
r
'

J upi ter m u tual ly e deavou to a ppro a ch each th e o t h er By

n r .

th e a ctio n with which th e s u t t r a cts Jupi te Jupiter an d n a r,

th e s u n e n deavo u r to co m e n ear e r togeth er ( by t h e thi rd la w o f

m otio n ) ; an d by th e a ctio wi th wh ich J pi t r attr a cts th e
n u e

15
 ME MO IR S O N

sun l ikewise Ju p ite 1 an d th e s u n e n deavou r to co m e n earer t o

,

geth e r B u t th e s is n o t a t tracted to ward s Ju pi ter by a

. un

twofol d a cti o n n J upit er by a t wofol d actio n to wards th e

,
0 1

s u n ; b u t it i s o n e si n gle i n ter m ediate a ctio n by wh ich both ,

ap p 1 oaeh n earer togeth er .

Th u s iro n d raw s th e l o ad sto n e as wel l as th e l oad sto n e

d raws t h n o n for al l i ro n in th e n e igh bo m h o o d o f the l oad
e

sto n e d ra w s oth e r i ro n B u t th e actio n betwi x t th e l oad sto n e

.

a n d i ro n is si n gl e an d i s co n sidered as si n gl e by th e h il
, p oso

p h e rs T h e
. acti o n of i ro n u po n th e lo a dsto n e i s i n deed th e , ,

a ctio n of th e l oad sto n e betwi x t i tself a n d th e i ro n by wh ich ,

bo th e n d eavou r to co m e n earer tog e th er ; an d so it m a n ifestly

appears f o r if you re m ov e th e l oad sto n e th e wh ol e force of th e
,

iro n al m ost ceases .

In th is se n se i t i s th at we ar e to co n cei ve o n e Si n gl e actio n
to b e e x e rted be t wi x t two pla n ets arisi n g fro m th e co n spiri n g ,

n a t u res of bo t h ; a n d th is a cti o n sta n di n g in th e sa m e r e latio n

to both i f it i s proportio n al to th e qu a n ti ty of m atter in th e

,

on e i t wil l be also proporti o n al to th e qua n ti ty of m atter in

,

th e o th er .

Pe rh aps i t m ay be obj ected th at accord i n g to th is phil ,

Osophy ( prop 74 book I ) all bod ies sho ul d m ut ually attract

.
, ,

o n e a n oth e r co n trary to th e evid e n ce o f e x peri m e n ts in ter

,

r e s tr ia l bodies ; bu t I a n swer that th e e x peri m e n ts in terres

t i l bo dies co m e to n o acco u n t ; f o r th e a t tracti o n o f h o m o

r a

e n e o u s sph eres n ear th e i r surfaces are ( by p rop 7 2 book

g .
,

I ) a s th eir dia m eters Wh e n ce a sph ere o f o n e f oo t in dia m

.

et e r an d o f a li k e n atu re to th e earth w o uld attract a s m all

, ,

body pl aced n ear i ts su rface wi th a force ti m es less

th a th e earth w ou ld d o if place d n ear i ts s u rface ; bu t so
n

s m al l a force cou ld produ ce n o se n sibl e e ffect If t wo s uch .

Sph er e s wer e dis ta n t bu t by o n e qu a rter o f an i n ch th ey w ould

-

n ot e ve n in spaces void o f resista n ce

,
co m e together by t h e ,

force of th ei r mu tual a ttracti o n in l ess th a n a m o n t h s ti m e ; t ’

I h e sp h er e i s o n e f oo t i n d ia m e ter th is n u m ber s ho u ld be
[f t ,

s in c
e th e d ia m e ter of th e ea r th is a bo u t 40 000 000 f t B u t p er h ap s N ewton , .

i n ten ded to sa y a sp h er e o f on e f oo t i n r a di u s .

1[ Th e t i m e i s ver y m u h less O c
n th e a ss u m p tio n th a t ea h of th e sp h er es i s
. c
o n e f oo t i n d ia m eter Poy n ti n g ( 185 p 1 0) n ds the ti me to be a bo u t 3 20 sec
, ,
fi
a n ds If , h owever w e ta ke o n e f oot a s the r a di us of ea h sp h er e Todh u n ter
.
,
c ,

( 1 40 vo l
,
1 p 4. 6 1 ) s h o ws th a t the tim e is less th a n 250 s e o n ds ]
,
. c
16
 TH E LA W S O F G RAVI TA TI O N

an d less sph eres w ill co m e togeth er at a rate yet slower v iz , .

,

in th e proportio n o f th eir dia m eters N ay w hol e m ou n tai n s .

,

will n o t be s ufficie n t t o prod u ce an y se n sible e fi e c t A m ou n .

tai n o f a n h e m isph eri cal figu re th ree m iles hi g h an d six broad , ,

will n ot by its attrac t io n draw th e pe n d u l u m two m in

, ,

utes o u t o f th e true perpe n dicula r ; an d it is o n ly in th e

*

great bod ies o f t h e pla n ets th a t these fo r ces are to be p e r

c e iv e d u n l e ss we m ay reaso n abou t s m aller bodies in m a n n er
,

f ol lowi n g ]
L et ABCD represe n t th e globe o f
th e earth c u t by an y pla n e AC i n t o , ,

two parts A C B an d A C D T h e part

, .

A C B beari n g u po n t h e part A C D
presses i t with its wh ol e w eigh t ; n o r B
c a n th e p a rt A C D sust a i n thi s p ress

u re an d co n ti n u e u n m oved if it i s
, ,

n o t opposed by a n e q ual co n trary

pressure A n d th ere f ore t h e parts
.

equally press each other by th ei r

weig h ts th at is equally attract e a ch
—
,

othe r accordi n g to the thi rd law o f m otio n ; an d i f separated

, ,

an d let go wo ul d fall towards each o t h er wit h veloci ti e s r e

,

c ip r o c all y as th e bodies A ll w h i ch we m ay try an d see in th e .

lo ad sto n e wh ose attracted part does n o t propel the part at

,

tracti n g b u t i s o n ly st pped an d s ustai n ed t hereby

,
o .

Sup p os e n o w t h at A C B represe n ts so m e s m all body o n th e

earth s s u rfac e ; the n because th e m utual attracti o n s of th i s
’
,

particle an d o f th e re m ai n i n g part A C D of the earth toward s

,

each oth er are equal b ut th e att ractio n o f th e parti cle toward s

, ,

th e earth ( or i ts weigh t ) is as th e m atter o f th e parti cle ( as we

have proved by th e e x peri m e n t o f the pe n d u l u m s ) the at
tractio n o f th e earth towards the particle wil l lik e W1s e b e as
th e m atter o f th e par ti cle ; an d th er e f ore t h e a ttr a ctive forces o f
al l terrestrial bod i e s will be as th ei r several q ua n t ities o f m atter .

Th e forces ( prop 71 book I ) wh ic h are as th e m atter in .

, ,

[ M as ke ly n e ( ) y
3 1 sa s wi th f
r e er en ce to th is :
It will a ppea r by a ver y ea sy
,

c lc
a u la tion ,
th a t s uch a mou n ta i n -
"
wou ld a ttr ac t the p lu mb li ne 1 1 8 f r om th e
'

p e r p e n di u l a r c .

1 [ Th is p a r agr ap h is f
o g r ea t i mp or t c ,
c
a n e be a u se i n i t N e wto n i n dica tes

the m e tho ds f
o a ll the exp e r i me n ts ye t ma de i n o r de r to m ea s u r e g r a vi ta tio n a l

a ttr a cti on i n ter r es tr ia l bod i es ]

B 17
 MEMO IRS O N

terrestrial bodie s o f al l f or m s an d th erefore r e n o t m u tabl e , a

wi th th e f or m s m ust b e fo u n d in al l sorts o f bodi e s wh atsoever

, ,

cel estial as well as terrestrial an d be in all propor tio n al to th ei r ,

'
-

qua n tities o f m atter becau se a m o n g all th ere i s n o d i ff ere n ce

,

o f substa n ce but o f m odes an d for m s o n ly

, Bu t in celestial .

bod ies t h e sa m e thi n g i s l ik ewis e prove d th u s We h ave sh ew n .

th at th e ac t i o n o f the circ u m sol ar forc e u po n all th e pla n ets

( red u ced to eq u al d ista ces
) i s a s th e m atter o f the pl an ets
n
;
that the actio n o f th e circu m jovial f orc e u po n th e s a tellites of
Jupiter observes t h e s am e l a w ; an d th e sa m e th i n g i s to be sai d
o f all t h e pl n e ts towards ev e ry pla n et ; bu t th e n ce i t follows
a

( by prop 6 9 book
. I ),t h at th ei r a ttracti ve forces are as t h eir
sev eral qua n ti ties of m at t er .

As th e parts o f t h e earth m u tu a lly at t ract o n e a n oth er so ,

d o th ose o f all t h e pla n ets If Ju piter a n d its satellites were .

brough t togeth er an d for m e d i n to o n e g lobe wi th out doubt

, ,

th ey woul d co n ti n u e m utual ly to attra ct o n e a n oth e r a s before .

A n d o n th e oth er h a n d if th e bod y o f Jupiter was broke n i n to

, ,

m ore gl obes to be su re th ese wo u l d n o less at t r a ct o n e a n oth er

, ,

tha n th ey do th e satellites n o w Fro m th ese attractio n s it i s .

t hat th e bodies o f t h e earth an d all th e pla n ets e ff ect a s p h er i

cal figu re an d th ei r parts coh ere an d are n o t dispersed throug h
, ,

th e se t h er B u t we have b e fore proved that th ese forces arise

.

fro m th e u n i versal n at ure of m atter ( pr op 72 book I ) an d .

, ,

that therefor e th e force o f an y wh ol e globe i s m ade u p o f th e

, ,

several fo rces of al l i ts parts A n d f ro m th e n ce i t f ollows ( by .

cor 3 prop 74) that th e force of every par ticl e decreases in

.
,
.

th e du plicate proporti o n of th e d ista n ce fro m th at particle ;

a n d ( by prop 73 a n d 75 book I ) that the force o f an e n tire
.
,

globe recko n i n g fro m th e su rface O u twards decreases in th e

, ,

d up li cate b ut recko n i n g i n wards in the si m ple proportio n of

, , ,

th e dista n ces fro m th e ce n t res if th e m atter o f th e globe be ,

u n ifor m A n d th o ug h th e m atter o f th e gl obe recko n i n g fro m

.
,

t h e ce n tre towards t h e su rface is n o t u n ifor m (p r e p 73 book ,

.
,
‘

I ) yet th e decrease in th e d uplicate proportio n of th e dist an ce

,

o u tward s woul d ( by prop 76 book I ) take place provide d th at .

, ,

(l iff o r m ity i s si m ilar in pl aces ro u n d abou t at equal dista n ces

ro
f m th e ce n tre A n d t wo su ch globes
. wil l
( by the sa m e prop
o s it io n ) attract o n e the oth er wi t h a force decreasi n g in t h e

d upli cate proportio n o f th e dista n ce betwee n th eir ce n tres .

Wh erefore th e absol u te force of every globe is as th e q ua n

18
 THE L AW S O F G R AV I TAT I O N

ti ty of m at t er wh ich th e gl obe co n tai n s ; bu t th e m otive f orce

by w hi ch every gl ob e i s a t t ra cted towards a n ot h er a n d wh ich , ,

in terrestrial bodies we co m m o ly call th ei r weigh t is as th e

,
n ,

co n te t u der t h e qua n tities o f m atter in both globes appli e d

n n

to t h e square o f th e di sta n ce bet w e e n th ei r ce n tres ( by cor 4 .

,

p rop 76 book I ) to whi ch f orce t h e qua n ti ty of m oti o n by

.
, , ,

wh ich e a ch globe in a gi ve n t i m e will be carrie d towards th e

oth er is proporti o n al A n d th e accelerative force by wh ich
,
.
,

every glo b accordi n g to its qua n ti ty o f m atter i s attracted

e

towards a n other is as th e qua n ti ty of m atter in that ot h e r globe

,

applied to th e sq uare of th e distan ce betwee n t h e ce n tres o f

th e tw o ( by cor 2 prop 76 book I ) ; to w h ic h force th e v e
.
, .
,

l o c ity by which th e attracted gl obe will in a give n ti m e be , ,

carried towards th e oth er is proporti o n al A n d fro m t hese .

pri n ciples well u n derstood i t will be n o w easy t o deter m i n e

,

th e m otio n s of the celestial bodies a m o n g t h e m selves .

SI R I SA A C N E WT ON was bor n at Woolst h orpe , n ear Gra n t

h a m , in L i n col n sh ire , in 1 6 42 He was ed u cated at th e Gra n t
.

h a m gra m m ar sch ool , e n tered Tr i n ity C ollege , Ca m bridge , in

-

1 6 6 1 , an d receive d h is degree fou r years later H e at o n ce .

bega n to m ak e th ose m agn ifice n t d iscoveries in m ath e m atics

an d physi cs wh ich h ave m ade h is n a m e i m m ortal In 1 6 6 5 h e .

co m m i tte d to writi n g his first di scovery o n fl u x io n s, an d sh ortly

aft e r wa rd m ade th e u n successfu l atte m pt , to w h ich we have
already referred , t o e x plai n l u n ar an d pla n etary m otio n s He .

n e x t t ur n ed h is a tte n ti o n to th e s ubj ect o f optics h is work in

th at fiel d i n cl u des the d iscovery o f th e u n equal refran gibility
o f di ff ere n tly col ou re d ligh ts , t h e co m posite n ess o f w hi te light

a n d ch ro m atic aberratio n Havi n g erro n eou sly co n cl u de d that

.

th is aberratio n co ul d n o t be r e cti fied by a co m bi n atio n o f le n ses ,

he tu r n ed h is atte n tio n to reflectors for telescopes an d m ade a
gre a t adv an ce in that directio n His n a m e is also cl osely i de n
.

t ifie d wi th t h e colou rs d ue to thi n plates Fro m 1 6 6 9 to 1 70 1 .

h e w a s L u c asian professor o f m athe m atics at Ca m bridge He .

w as e l e c t ed t o m e m bership in th e R oyal Society in 1 6 71 a n d ,

f ro m 1 703 u n til h is death was its preside n t ; h e beca m e a m e m

ber of th e Paris Acade m y in 1 6 99 Th e p ublicatio n of h is work .

o n O ptics h d cau s e d so m e co n troversy an d s uc h a lover o f

a ,

peac e was N ewto an d so li tt l e di d h e care for th e praise of

n ,

19
ME MO IRS O N T HE L AWS O F G RAV ITAT I O N

th e w orl d th a t it was o n ly at t h e e a r n es t sol ici tati o n o f H l l y

, a e

t h a t h e was wi lli n g to gi ve to th e u blic t h e r e s u l ts of h is wo n

de r f u l rese a rch es 0 1 c e tral orbi t a n d u n i v e rsal gravi t a tio n

1 n

th ese i n cl u d e d a e x p l a n a ti o n o f th e l u n ar i n e qu a lities th e
n ,

figure of th e e a rt h t h e prec e ssi o n o f t h e equi n o x e s a n d t h e

,

tides a n d a m e t h od of co m pari n g th e m ass e s o f th e h eave n ly

,

bod i e s In 1 6 6 9 h e beca m e a m e m ber o f Parlia m e n t in 1 6 9 6

.
,

Ward e n o f the Mi n t an d f ro m 1 6 9 9 u n til hi s death was Master

, ,

o f th e Mi n t . He gave m u ch val u able ai d in th e recoi n ag e o f

t h e m o n ey a n d in q uesti o n s o f fi n a n ce at t h i s period He was
.

k n igh ted in 1 705 D uri n g t h e latt e r years o f his l i f e m u ch o f

.

his ti m e was devoted to h i s p ubli c d u ties He d ied in 1 727

.
,

an d was b u ried in West m i n ster Abbey .

20
 LA F I G U R E D E LA T E RR E
D é t e r m i n é e par l es O bservatio n s d e M e ssi e u rs Bougu er e t ,

de la C o n d m i n e d e l A c a dé m ie R oy al e de s Scie n ces e n voy é s

a ,
’
,

p ar ord r e da Ro
y a u Pé r o u pou r observer a u x e n vi ro n s d e
,

I E q u a te u r
’
.

Av e c n n e R e l a ti o n ab r e g é e d e c e Voyage qui co n ti en t la ,

descripti o n d u P ays d an s lequel les op erati ons o n t é té faites .

P A R M . BO UGUE R
A P a r is ,
1 749

Se c t io n 7 p p 3 27 394, .
—

TH E F I G U R E OF TH E E AR TH
Deter m i n e d by t h e observati o n s o f M M Bougu er an d d e la .

Co n da m i n e o f th e R oyal Acade m y o f Scie n c e s se n t to Peru

, ,

by ord e r o f th e Ki n g to m ake observati ons n ear t h e equator .

With a bri e f accou n t o f th ei r t ravels an d a descriptio n o f t h e

cou n try in wh ich th e i n vestigatio n s w er e m ad e .

B Y P IE RRE BO UGUER
P a r is ,
1 749

Se c ti
on 7 p p 3 27 3 94 .
—

21
 C O N TE N T S O F SE C T O N V II I

C p
h a L.
—
E xp e r im en ts M a de i n O r de r to fin d th e L en g th f
o th e Se co n ds

Pe n du l u m
D escr ip tion f
o Pen du l u m
M etho d of O bser va tion ( O m i tted) .

O bser ved L e n g th s of c
Se on ds -

Pen du lu m at Va r iou s Pla ces .

c
Cor r e tion s to be M a de i n th e O bser ved L en g th s
Cor r e ct d L
e e n g th s o f Se c on ds -

Pe n du lu m a t Va r iou s P la ces .

IL — Comp a r ison f
o A ttr a tion c an d Cen tr if u ga l For c e( O m i tted) .

III — R em a r ks on th e D im i n u ti o n in c
A ttr a tio n a t D iz fer en t
H eigh ts a bove Sea level -

Ca l c u la tio n o f c
th e A ttr a tion D u e to a Pla tea u
D edu tio n c o
f the M ea n D en sity of th e E a r th f r om Pen d
u lu m
E xp er im en ts .

IV —
. c
O u th e D efle tio n of th e Plu m b l in e by a M -

o u n ta in

c
D es r ip tio n of M ou n t Ch imbor az o
I ts D ef le tio n c f
o th e Plu m b lin e -
Ca l c u la ted f r om th e Th eor y .

Va r iou s Ways Sugg es ted f o r Sh owin g th e D efl e tion c

D escr ip tion o f th e M eth od E mp loyed .

E xa m i n a tion of th e A ttr a tion c f Ch im bor a z o

o

Mer id ia n A l ti tu des at th e Fi r s t Sta tion

M ea su r em en ts M a de to fin d th e R ela ti ve Position s of th e two
Sta tio n s .

M er idi a n A l ti tu des at th e Se c
ond Sta tio n ( O m i tted) .

c
Cor r e ted fli er idia n A l ti tu des at th e Se c on d Sta tion
Ca l c u l a tion s f or the O bser ved D efle tio n fc o th e Plu m b lin e -
.

I ts Poor A g r eem e n t w i th tha t Ca lcu la ted f r om Th eor y

Ap p en dix ( O m itted) .

22
 SE C T I ON V II OF B O UG UE R S FIG UR E
’
.

OF TH E E AR TH

A CC O UNT O F TH E X P E R IM E N T S O R O B SE R V A TI ON S O N G R A V
E

ITA TIO N , W ITH R E M A R K S O N T H E C A U SE S O F

T H E FI G U R E O F T H E E A R TH

1 .H A V I N G di scussed everyt h i n g that bears o n th e earth c on

s id e r e d as a g e o m etric a l body i t re m ai n s for u s before ter m in a t
, ,

i g t his work to verify t h e f acts wh ich giv e u s so m e slight

n ,

k n owledg of th e i n teri or co n f or m atio n of th is great m ass c o n

e

s id e r e d as a physical body .

2 Th e first questio n wh ich prese n ts itself o n th i s m atter is

.

a co n sideratio n o f th e part play e d in th e flatte n i n g o f th e earth

by the attr a ctio n wh ich co m presses it f ro m all sides u rgi n g al l ,

m asses toward s certai n poi n ts We k n ow si n ce M R ich er first

.
, .

re m arked it ( in 1 6 72 in Caye n e ) that thi s f orce is n o t every

n ,

wh ere t h e sa m e I t is greater towards th e poles an d less t o

.
,

wards th e equ ator Th is agrees perfectly wi t h th e figu re o f th e

.

earth w hi ch appears to h ave yielded a l i ttl e to the great press

,

u re a t th e pol es an d to be sl ightly e l evat e d o n th e co n trary

, , ,

at th e equator wh e r e t h e co m pressi n g force was m ore feebl e

, .

B ut does t h e e fi e c t correspo n d e x actly t o the cau se upo n wh ich

we desire i t to depe n d Is th e differe n ce i attractio n so great
? n

t hat we c an attribu te to it all th e i n equ ali ty wh ich e x ists as ,

w e h ave see n betwee n th e two dia m eters o f o u r globe ? To

,

a n swer this questio n it i s n ecessary to deter m i n e by e x a ct e x ,

er im e n t h ow m u ch the attractio n a ctu ally differs in di ff ere n t

p ,

parts of th e earth We h ave two m eth od s for observi n g

.

th e chan ge in attractio n as we pass f ro m o n e regio n t o a n oth er

w e have o n ly to e x a m i n e h ow m uch m ore quickl y or m ore
s l owly a pe n du l u m o f give n l e n gth oscilla t es ; or else to fin d
th e l e n gth o f th e pe n d ul u m wh ose ti m e of vibratio n i s e x actly
23
 ME MO I RS O N

a seco n d ; th e differe n ces w h ic h we shall fi n d in th e le n g t h o f

th i s p e n du l u m will deter m i n e th e cha n ges of t h e attractio n as
w e go fro m o n e regio n to a n oth er .

A CC O U NT O F TH E E X P E R IM E N T S M A D E PU R P O SE O F FO R T H E
D E T E R M I NI NG T H E L E N G TH O F T H E SE C O N D S P E N D U L U M -

3 My first e x peri m e n ts wi th th e pe n dul u m wer e m ad e a t

.

Petit Goave in th e i sl a d o f St Do m i n gue Th ey a r e reported

-
n . .

in th e m e m oirs o f th e Acade m y f o r 1 73 5 a n d 1 73 6
4 Th e i n str u m e n t wh ic h I al m ost al ways used a n d wh ic h I
.
,

still u se i s e x tre m ely si m pl e I m ak e t he pe n d ul u m always

, .

e x ac tly o f th e sa m e l e n gth an d I co m pare i ts oscillati o n s w i th

,

th ose o f a clock wh ich I r e gulate by daily o bservatio n s It i s .

n ot,
properly speaki n g by t h e differe n t le n gth s o f th p e n d
, e

u l u m th at I j udg e o f th e i te n sity o f gravi tati o n a t d i ff ere n t

n

p laces I j u dge o f i t o n ly by the gr a ter o r less r pi di ty o f t h e e a

oscillatio n s o r by th e n u m ber of oscillatio n s mad e by th e pe n d

,

ul u m in 24 h ours I t appears to m e to be m u c h e asier to

.

cou n t the n u m ber o f oscillatio n s th a n to m easure directly d if

f e r e n c e s o f a fe w h u n dredt h s o f a li n e in th e le n gth o f th e *

pe n d ul u m .

[ Th en f f hi
ollows a n a ccou n t o
s p e n du l u m T h e bob w a s of .

cap p er comp os ed of tw o eq u a l tr u n ca ted c on es j oin ed a t th eir

,

g r ea ter b a s es Th e th r ea d wa s a fi br e o
.
f a l oe w h ich is n ot a
f ,

cted by th e w ea th er T h e l en g th w a s m a in ta i n ed c on s ta n t by
f e .

h a v i ng it a l ways s o th a t a n ir on r u le j u s t fi tted i n betw een th e

c la mp a n d th e bob Th e len g th of th e eq u iva len t s imp le p en du l u m
.

w as 3 6 p ou ces li n es , .

B oug u er g iv es a des cr ip tion of a s ca le fix ed beh i n d th e p on d

u l u m , by m ea n s of w h ich h e c ou l d obser ve th e decr em en t a n d th e

tim e r eq u ir ed by th e p en du l u m to ga in a n osc illa tion on th e

c lock ]
10 It i s ti m e to relate th e e x peri m e n ts
. I sh al l c h oos e .

o n e of th ose wh i ch I m ade o n th e rocky su m m it o f Pi c h i n c h a

i s es a bov e s ea level] in th e m o n th o f Augu st 1 73 7 Th e

[ 24 3 4 to -

, , .

[ 72 p ou ces 1 toise metr es ft . 1 2 li nes 1 p o u ce ]

24
 THE L A WS O F GR AV I TA T I O N

force of a t tractio n was f eebl e o t o ly b e cause we were n e arly ,

n n

ov e r th e equator a t this pl a c e b t a lso b e c a u s e we w e re a t a ,

u

very gr e a t h e igh t above the sur f ace o f th e se a .

[ D eta ils f
o exp er im en t ]
We
this way th a t th e pe n d u l u m wh ich beats
fi n d in
s e co ds a t th e e qu ator a n d in the hig h est a ccessibl e plac e o n
n ,

th e e a rth is 3 6 pou ces ,

li n es in le gth I m a d e other e x n .

e im e t s at t h e sa m e pl a ce w h ich gr e d a s e x a c tly s possi ble a e a

p r n

w i th th is r e sul t [ O n e m a de by D on A n ton io de U lloa g ave 3 6

.

p ou c es , l i n es W e m ay ta ke a s th e m ea n 3 6 p ou ces
.
,

l in es ]
13 I h av e fou n d by t h e sa m e proceedi n gs an d with th e ai d
.

o f t h e sa m e i n stru m e n ts th e le n g th o f th e seco n ds pe n d ul u m ,
-

at Qui to [ 1 46 6 tois es a bove sea level] to b e 3 6 pou c e s or -

, ,

li es I h av e veri fi e d i t a t di ff e r e n t ti m e s a d i al l sea
n . n n

so s o f th e year :at ti m es of aph eli o n a n d perih e lio a t th e

n n,

equi n o x es a n d w h e n th e s u n was a t i ter m e di t e poi n ts ; th e

,
n a

e x tre m e res ul ts wer e 3 6 po u ces l i e s an d li es wi th ,

n n ,

n o d i ff er e c e s wh ic h could n o t be attri b u ted to th e i n evi table

n

e rrors o f obs e rvatio n .

e q u es tion of a p os s ible yea r ly c h a n g e is di s cu ss ed

[ T h .

E xp er im en ts w er e m a de w i th th e s a m e app ar a tu s , i n 1 740, a t .

l Is le de l In ca 1 4 or 1 5 f r om th e eq u a tor , a n d s ca r cely 40 tois es

’ ’ ' ’
,

a bov e s ea -
l evel . B oug u er r eg ar ds th is deter m in a tion as th a t f
o

th e tr u e eq u i n octia l p en du l u m ]
15 .

Plac e Le n g th f o u n d by e xp e r im ent

243 4 to ise s ab s o l u te h e ig h t . 36 p o u c es , l in e s
U n de r th e e q u a to r a t 1 46 6 6 83
Se a l e v e l -

7 07
At Po r t be llo 9
o ,
°
3 4 N l at it u e
'

. d
At Pe t it G o a v e 18
-

,
°
27
’

At Pa r is 8 58

C O RR E C TI ON S WVH IC H M U ST B E A PP L I E D T O T H E L E NGTH O F
T H E P E N D U L UM A S D E T E R M I N E D D I R E C T L Y F RO M

T H E E X P E R IM E N T S .

r om ch a n g es
16 .
[ B o ug u e r r em a r ks th a t th es e cor r ec t io n s a r is e f
i n temp er a tu r e and i n th e c on s tit u t io n o f th e a tm osp h er e ] Th e
25
 MEMO IRS O N

first cau se d oes n o t really ch a n ge th e le n gth i t o n ly m akes i t ,

appear di ffere n t accord i n g as t h e m eas u res w e u s e are di ffer 0

e n tly altere d by h eat o r cold ; bu t th e oth er c a use bri n gs in a

real i n equali ty si n ce i t prod u ces n e arly th e sa m e e ffect as if
,

th e weigh t were greater or s m aller .

17 . Si n ce th e te m peratu r e of Qu ito does n o t differ fro m

th at of Pari s in th e m i ddle o f spri n g w e h ave o n ly to refer al l ,

ou r res ul ts to it Th at is w i th o u t alteri n g th e le n gth s o f the

.
,

pe n du l u m fo u n d in th es e tw o citi e s w e h ave o n ly to correct al l ,

the oth ers by i n creasi n g or di m i n i sh i n g th e m accordi n g as th e ,

m etal r u l es w e u sed wer e e x pa n ded by th e h ea t o r co n tracted

by th e cold [ H e con clu des f r om h is exp er imen ts th a t a ch a n ge
.

of l e n th o
g f p e n du l u m of 0 2 l i n es c or r esp on ds to a ch a
. n g e of
temp er a tu r e of H en ce h e h a d to a dd 0 75 li n es to th e len g th .

f ou n d a t s ea level, a n d s u btr a ct 0 5 lin es f r om tha t f ou n d a t

-
.

P ich in ch a .
]
18 Th ere i s li ttl e m ore diffi cul ty in fi n d i n g th e al terati o n in
.

th e l e n gth o f th e pe n d u l u m cau sed by th e m edi u m in wh ich

th e e x peri m e n ts a r e m ade Th is m e diu m w h e t h e r rare or de n se
.
, ,

h as a certai n weigh t an d th at o f th e s m all m ass o f copper o f

, ,

wh i ch th e bob o f th e pe n d ul u m is for m ed i s a little lesse n ed ,

by i t Th e s m all m ass te n d s to fall to th e ear t h with o n ly th e

.

e x cess o f its weigh t above th a t o f th e ai r w h ich su rro u n ds it .

Th u s o u r pe n d ul u m s are acted o n by a force a littl e less th a n if

we h ad p e r f or m e d th e e x peri m e n ts in vacu o :a n d th e le n gth
'

o f th e seco n ds pe n d u l u m w h i ch w e fou n d directly fro m e x p e r i

-

m e n t is a little t o o sh ort in th e s am e proportio n

,
.

1 9 Th e u s e o f th e baro m eter e n ables u s to fin d th e ratio be

.

t wee n th e weigh t o f m e rc u ry an d o f ai r in all th e parts o f th e

at m osph ere w hi ch are accessible We Observe h o w ma n y feet .

i t is n ecess ary to asce n d or desc e n d in ord er to ch an ge t h e

h eigh t o f th e m ercu ry by a l i n e I h ave f ou n d in thi s w ay .

th a t i t was o n ly n ecessary to e x pr e ss th e fi rst ( th e weig h t O f ‘

air ) by u n ity a t th e su m m i t o f Pich i n ch a if o n e e x press e d that

, ,

o f copper by 1 1 0 00 So I al w ays fou n d th e seco n ds pe n d

.
-

u l uru to o s n ul by T1 43 3 t h p ar t ( Po correct for th i s e rror

n -

. .

we m u st ad d 04 li n es [ a t P ich in ch a ; 05 a t Qu ito ; 0 6 a t s ea
. . .

lev el ]. Th is i s t h e fi rst ti m e th at an y o n e h as tak e n a o

co u n t o f th is s m all correcti o n wh ich e n ters i n to th e e xp e r i
m e n ts b u t we ca n n ot n eglect it if we wish to attai n th e greatest
,

accuracy .

26
 TH E LAWS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

[ B ou g u er th en p r ov es t h a t th e t im e of vibr a tion is n ot ap p r eci

a bly a ec ted b
fi y th e r es is tan c e of t h e

22 C orrected l e n gth s o f t h e seco n ds pe n d ul u m , o r s u ch as

. -

th ey w o ul d be if th e oscillati o n s wer e m ade i n v a cu o .

Pl ace .

a b s o l u te h e ig h t . 36 p o u c es , 6 6 9 l in e s
. .

Under th e e q u at o r a t

A t Po r to b e l l o , 9
°
34 N l a t itu de
'

At Pe t it G o av e
-

,
1 8 27
°

A t P ar is

C O MP A R I SO N O F A TT R A C TI O N A N D TH E C E NT R IFUG A L F O R C E
W HI C H B O D I E S A C Q UI R E B Y T H E M O TI O N O F T H E E A R TH
A B O UT ITS A X I S W ITH R E M A R K S O N T H E E FF E C T S ,

O F TH E SE T WO F O R C E S .

oug u er fi n ds th a t th e p r im i tive a ttr a c tion ( th a t is , th e a ttr a e

{ B
tion th e ea r th w ou ld h a v e if i t w er e a t r es t) is to th e cen tr if ug a l
f or ce as H e g i v es a ta ble s h ow i n g th e dec r eas e i n th e
1 .

leng th of th e secon ds p en du lu m a t va r iou s la ti tu des , du e to th e

-

cen tr if u g a l Th e f ollow i ng h ea din g s w il l g ive a n i dea o

f or ce .

f
th e m a tter c on ta in ed i n th e r es t of th is ch ap ter ] .

Th e ce n tri f ugal force prod uced by t h e m o tio n o f th e e ar th

abou t i ts a x i s is n ot sufficie n t to prod u c e th e observe d d iffer
e mees in weigh t .

The pri m i ti ve attracti o n d oes n ot te n d towards a co m m o n

poi n t as ce n tre .

RE MA R KS ON TH E D I MI N UTI O N I N TH E TT R A C TI O N A T
A D IF

FE R E N T H E IGHT S A B O V E T H E L E V E L O F T H E SE A .

40 Th e e x p e ri m e n ts with th p e d ul u m wh ich we ha ve
. e n

m ad e a t Q u ito a n d o n th e su m m it o f Pi ch i n ch a teach us that

[ See n o te on p age 6 6]
27
 M E MO I RS O N

th e a ttracti o n ch a n ges wi th th e dista n c e fro m th e ce n tre o f th e

ea 1 th This forc e goes 0 d i m i n ish i n g as w e ascen d ; I h ave 11

f ou n d th e pe n d u l u m a t Qui to to be s h o 1 t er th a n at sea level by -

. 3 3 li n es o r th e T g g f th part :a n d in m ou n ti n g to th e su m m i t o f
,
l —

Pich i ch a th e pe n d ul u m is sh o r te n ed ag ai n by 1 9 li n es an d i s
n .
,

g 43 t h part sh orter th a n at sea l e vel O n e ca n n ot attribu te -

.
*

t h s e di ffere n ces to th e ce n trifugal force w h i ch bei n g greater

e , ,

th e h igh er we asce n d ough t to di m i n ish a li ttl e furth er t h e

,

p ri m i ti ve attracti o n Th e ce n trifuga l force is i n creased by th e

.

h eigh t of th e m ou tai n by t e fi l g t h part o n ly a n d as i t i s

h l n —
,

i tsel f bu t th e 745 th part o f th e w e ig h t i t is clear th at its n e w ,

i n cr e a se correspo n d s to 001 li n es o n ly in th e le n gth o f th e .

p e n d ul u m a n d so d oes n o t se n sibly co n trib u te to th e di m i

.

n u t io n o f t h e o t h er f orce .

4 1 If w e co m p a r e th e sh orte n i g wh i ch th e pe n dul u m r e
. n

c e iv e s wi th t h e h e igh t at wh i ch th e e x p e ri m e n t was m ad e we ,

see th a t th e f orces d o n o t d e cre a se in t h e si m ple i n vers e ratio

o f th e d is t a n ces fro m th e ce n tre o f th e e a rth b u t th a t th ey ,

follow rath er t h e proportio n o f th e squ are Qui to i s 1 46 6 .

toises abov e s e a level o r fl fl th o f th e ra di u s o f t h e e a r t h b u t

-

,
l

i t h as be e n fou n d th at th e a t trac ti o n i s l e ss by a fracti o n m u ch

m ore c o n s ide 1 a bl e n a m e ly by a fi fl t h part wh ich is n early
—
,
l
,

d o ubl e ; th is i s n o t v e r y f ar f ro m the i n v e rse ratio o f th e

Sq uare of th e d ista n c e We h a v e a seco n d e xa m pl e in th e
.

e x peri m e n t m a d e 0 1 Pich i n ch a Th e a bsol u te h eigh t of thi s

1 .

m ou n t a i n wh i ch i s 243 4 toi s s abov e s e a l evel i s Tg fi bl o f t h e

, e -

,
l
—
]

rad i us o f t h e e arth Th e di m i n u tio n of t h e l e n gth o f th e pe n d

.

u l u m or o f t h e a ttractio n ough t th e n to be t h e fi l th part

, , ,

if it is to b e i th e i n v e rse ratio of t h e square o f th e d ista n ce

n

b u t i t w as by n o m ea s so great in f act o n ly th e 3 43 th part

n —
, .

42 Thi s d i m i n u tio n in ttractio n as we go abov e sea leve l i s

. a ,
-

qu ite i co n f or m ity wi th wh a t we o th erwise k n o w We c an

n .

co m p a r e wi th th e at t racti o h r e e x peri m e n ted upo n th at

‘

n e

wh i c h k e ps th e m oo n in it orbit or wh i ch oblig e s i t c o n
e s ,

tin u al ly to perfor m a circl e a bou t u s Th ese two forces a '

. re

e x actly in th e i n verse ratio o f th e squ a r e s o f t h e d ista n c e s

f r o m th e ce n tre of th e earth We c an m ake th e sa m e e x .

[ P d l m b
en ti
u u w m d t th
o se r va d th p c i
l
on s P by d
er e a e a ese a n o er a es n er u '
e

l C d mi
a on l ( 8 pp 70 1 44 16 2
a n e a so , F c mp l t bibli g p hy f
.
, , or a o e e o ra o

p e n d u l u m exp e r i m e n ts , see th a t p u blished by L a Socie te Fr a n ca ise d e

’

Physiq u e
( 1 78 ,
vo l .

28
 T HE L A WS O F G R AV I T A T I O N

am n i atio n wi th respect to t h e pri cip al p l a ets w h ich h a v e n n

sev e r l satelli te s or with respec t t o t h e s

a ,
towards wh i ch un,

a ll th e p ri n cip a l pla ets a e a ttr cted a n d we

n shal l a lways
r a ,

fi n d t h e la w o f t h e squ a r e Wh y th e d o o ur e x p e ri m e t s
.
,
n , n

co n sta n tly give a l a w n o t e n t irely i agre e m e n t wi th th is ? n

Is i t n c e ss a ry to a t t ribu te th e di ff e re n c e to so m e error 0
e 11

our part o r c a i t be th a t in t h e n e ig h borh ood o f gre a t m asses

n

l ike the e arth th e l a w u n d e r co n sid e a ti o n i s obs e rv e d i an r n

i m per f e ct m a n n er o n ly
43 We sh all fi n d ou rselves in a posi ti o n to sol v e th i s di th
.

c u lty perh aps by re m arki n g that th e C ordilleras 0 1 wh ich w e

, , ,
1

wer e plac e d f or m a ki n d o f pl a teau or wh a t in c e r tai n ways

, , ,

a m ou n t s to the sa m e t h i n g th e sur f a ce o f th e e ar th is t h e r e
, .

carried to a gre a te r heigh t o r to a g re t e r di sta n c e fro m th e a

c e n tr e Th er e i s r e aso n for believi n g that in th i s seco n d

.

case t h e a ttractio n w oul d b e a littl e gr e ater ; f o r it i s n a t ural

to th i n k th at i t d e pe n d s upo n t h e siz e o f t h e attracti g m ass n .

There are th e n t w th i n gs to b e co n sid er e d in th e c a se o f

o
'

t h e e x peri m e n ts o t h e pe d ul u m w h ich I h ave reported

n n .

Thes e e x peri m e n ts were m ad e

at a gr e at h e igh t above th e av
er age su rf ac e o f t h e earth an d ,

th ere f ore th e attractio n o ugh t I

to be f ou n d a l ittle less B ut .
,

0 1
1 th e oth er h a n d t h e group I ,
1
t

o f m o u n tai s o n wh ich Q ito i s

n u 1

placed an d o n which Pichi n cha 1

rises an d all th e other

,

m its to wh ich i t ac t s as a
pli n th ough t to prod u ce early
,
n

th e sa m e e ff e ct as if th e earth
at thi s pl a c e were la rger o r h ad
a great e r rad i us The attra e .

t io n o n th is acco u n t ough t to i n cr e ase T h u s i t dep e n d s 0 1 . 1

a ki d o f ch a ce o r to Sp e ak m or e p h iIO SO p h ic al ly i t de
n n , , ,

pe n ds o n circu m sta n ces wh ich we d o n o t yet k o w w heth er n ,

th e attractio n at Quito wil l be equal to th at at sea level o r be -

s m aller or larger .

44 Suppose th a t th e circle AD D r e prese n ts t h e circ u m

.

fer e n ce o f th e e a rth o f wh i ch C i s t h e c e tr e a d th at A d
, n ,
n

is t h e a m ou n t by wh ich Quito Sit u at e d a t a is e l e vated , ,

29
 ME MO IRS O N

a bo e sea l evel I m agi n e a e w sph e ri cal s h e l l of terrestrial

v -
. n

m at t er occupyi n g ll the i n t e rv l be t wee the tw o co n een

,
a a n

tric surfac e s ADD a d a dd ; or wh ich co m es to th e s am e

n ,

th i n g i m agi n e th a t th e e a rt h i cr e ses in radi us an d th at

, n a ,

Quito w i th o u t ch a n g g i ts positio r e m ai n s a t th e level

,
in n ,

o f th e s e a o w su pposed m u ch higher
,
n There is every reaso n .

to th i n k t h at th e a ttractio a t Qui to wo ul d as a co n s e que n ce n , ,

b e f o u n d greater th a i t actu a lly i s at A o r at D in th e

n
,

rati o o f C A to C a It is n ecess a ry for th a t h owever t o s up

.
, ,

pos e th at the layer o f earth e cl os e d betwee n th e two c o n n

c e n tric su r f ac e s i s of th e sa m e de n si ty as all th e r e st ; f o r if
th e de n sity w er e di ff ere n t th e i n crease wo uld n o lo n ger be in
th e sa m e ratio .

45 Cal l r th e rad i u s a n d A th e de si ty of th e e a rth

.
,
Th e n n .

r A is t h e attractio n at a ll t h e poi n ts A D e tc supposi n g , , .

,

th at th e eart h e n ds th er e Call h th e h eigh t A a wh ich i s .

,

very s m all co m pared wi t h r Th e n th e attracti o n at a i s .

less tha n at A in th e r ti o of r , ,
o r its d i m i n u tio n
a
2

wil l be as 2h z r ; t hat is if th e attracti o n i s r A a t A i t i s , ,

( r —
2 h ) A at a a n d th is su
, pposes th at th e earth h as C A o n ly
f o r e ff ective radi u s B u t all th i s will be s u bj ect t o cha n ge
.

if we add to ou r gl obe th e layer A dD w h os e d e n si t y is 8 , .

This n e w sph erical layer if i t h ad th e sa m e de n sity as th e,

rest w ou l d aug m e n t t h e at tracti o n at th e su rface in th e sa m e

,

rati o as th e rad i u s o f th e earth beca m e greater Th e i n crease .

wo ul d be in th e r a ti o of r r + h .

4 6 Th u s th e added l ayer w oul d n o t o ly m ak e u p for th e

. n

decrease wh ich th e a ttractio n actual ly su ff ers w h e n we go

away fro m th e earth in risi n g by th e h eigh t A a h b u t w oul d
,
z
,

add a n e w a m ou n t to it equ al to h al f th e di m i n u ti o n si n ce
, ,

it wo u l d m ake th is a ttractio n wh ich is actual ly r 2h at th e ,

poi n t a beco m e r + h It f ollows th at th e attractio n w h ic h

,
.

th e Sph erical layer c an prod uce at its e x terior su rface at a

is e x pressed by 3 h o r th ree ti m es it s th i ck n ess ; bu t we m us t
,

m ul tiply by th e de sity 8 becaus e we suppose that th e d e n

n ,

s ity of th e layer a n d th a t o f th e earth as a wh ole are n ot

e q u aL

47 To recapitulat e :Wh e n t h e earth h as i ts radi n s C A r

.
,
—
__
,

th e attractio n at A is r A a n d at th e h eigh t h is ( r 2h ) A ,
—
.

B ut w he n w e add to th e earth t h e sph eri cal layer A d D the ,

attractio n at a beco m es ( r 2h ) A + 3 bB -
.

30
 THE L A WS O F G RAV I TA TI O N

48 All th at re m ai n s n o w t o h e re m ark ed is th at the Cord ill

.
.

eras of P e ru h owever great they m ay h e ough t n o t to prod u ce

, ,

th e sa m e e ffect as th e sphe rical sh e l l w hi ch we h ave assu m ed .

If th e bas e E E o f th e C ordill e ras w e re e x actly do uble its

h eigh t a n d thi s m ass had th e shape of th e roof o f a h ou se of
,

i n defi n ite le gth th e n th e C ordilleras woul d prod uce at a o n ly

n ,

7} th e effect o f the e n ti re sph erica l shell as c an be easily proved , .

B u t th ere are f u rth er a ddi tio n s to be m ad e in order to give a

m ore acc ur a te i d e a o f th e C ordill eras o f Peru Th e base E E is .

8 0 o r 1 00 ti m es greater th an th e h e igh t A a which aug m e n ts ,

th e eff ct in precisely th e s am e rati o as t h e a n gl e a t a is

e

g r e a ter Th is a n gle i s o n ly 90
. wh e n we fin d th e e ffect 4 of
°

th at wh i ch th e wh ole sph erical l ayer woul d prod u ce bu t 0 1 , 1

acco u n t o f th e great width o f th e base o f th e Cordill e ras th e

a n gl e i s n ear e r wh ic h d ou bles th e e ffect Moreover th e .
,

C ordilleras d o n o t ter m i n a te at th e h eig h t o f Qui to in a si n gl e

su m m i t l ike th e ridge o f a h ou se ; i t is on th e co n trary qui t e , ,

1 0 or 1 2 leagu es broad th ere O n e c an su ppose th e n wi th ou t .

,

f ear of m istake that th e e ff ect i s th e greatest wh ich c a n be

,

prod u ced by a ch ai n o f m ou n tai n s It is th e } o f th at whi ch a . 7

sph e rical layer w ould prod u ce o r si t a d if we add to i t th e , ,

n

attractio n ( r 2h ) A wh ich th e gl obe AD D prod uces at a we

—
, ,

Sh a l l h ave ( r 2h ) A fi h? as th e e x pr e ssio n for th e attracti o n

— k
t
g

at Qui to w h e r A e x pr e sses t h at at s e a l e vel

, n -
.

49 Th e differ e n c e b et w ee
. t h e t wo is 2h A gl i b wh i ch n ,

fur n ish es th e s ubj e ct of di vers q uite c uriou s re m a rks If th e .

m atter o f the C ord illeras were m ore co m pac t th a n th a t of th e

aver age o f th e w h ole earth an d th eir d e n si ties were as 4 :3 , ,

the di ff ere n ce 2h A %h 5 wou ld beco m e zero a n d th e a t t ra e —

,

tio n at Qu i to woul d be th e s am e as at s e a level If th e d e n si ty -

.

B were stil l greater o u r e x p r e ssio f o r t h e di m i n utio n would

, n

ch a n ge sig n an d beco m e a n i n cr e s e so that th e pe n dul u m a ,

wo u ld be lo n ger at Qui to tha n at sea l e v e l B u t i t i s evide n t -

.

[ Th is f or m u la is i n dep e n den tlyf ou n d by D A lem ber t ( 1 3 vol 6 p p 85

’

:g% )
.
, . .

by You n g (51 a n d 95 vo l 2 p a n d by Po isson ( 6 5 vol

, .
,
1 pp .
,
.
, . 492

(
2 “
Un de r the f or m 1 Dr Yo u n g
’
i t is k n ow n
s
as .

R ule, whe r e g is th e '

va lu e o f g r a vi ty a t heig h t h a n d g o is the va lu e a t th e
.

sea -

level Fa ye ( 147)
. c o n te n ds th a t the l a s t ter m of the eq u a tio n sh o u ld be lef t
ou t ; an d A i r y s f lo ta tion th eor y
if
’ “
or Faye s omp e n sa tion theo r y
’
c
( 146 g) ,
be tr u e th e r e is n o dou bt th a t th is ter m r eq u i r es co r rection ]
,

31
 MEMO IRS O N

th at th i n gs ar e n o t so Th e d iffere n ce in th e l e n gth of th e pe n d
.

u l u m is s u ffi cie n tly great to l et 1i s see th at th e de n si t y o f th e

m atter o f whi ch th e C or dilleras i s f or m ed 1 s m uch s m alle 1 tha n
th t o f th e rest o f th e gl ob e
a .

5 0 We h ave fou n d by e x peri m e n t a di m i n uti o

. n of a
q gf t h —

par t in t h e l e n gth of th e p e n d ul u m 0 1 in th e attractio n as we , ,

go fro m th e sea lev e l to Qui to So T 3137 correspo n ds to 2h A

-
.

gh i as ,
co m pared wi th r A wh i ch e x pr sses th e attractio n at
, e

sea level ; that i s w e h ave

-

1
223 7
wh i c h i s t h e ratio of the h eigh t of Quito to th e radiu s
1 1 2A 3
8
of th e e ar t h we s h al l h ave — x Wh e n ce
133 1 223 7 A
8 50
we ded u ce 5 A wh ich tells u s th at th e C ordilleras o f
,
3 9 93
Peru in spi te o f all th e m i neral s t h ey co n tai n h ave l ess th a n }
, , 7

the d e n si ty o f th e i n t e rior o f th e earth .

*

5 1 We ad m i t th at th is d eter m i n atio n m ay co n tai n a few e r

.

r o r s o n accou n t o f t he large n u m ber of el e m e n ts we h ad to e m

pl oy in order to arri ve at i t N e verth el ess if we o n ce ad m i t .

,

th at th e attractio n w h e n the oth er ci rcu m stan ces are the sa m e

, ,

f o l lows e x actly th e di rect rati o o f th e m a sses w e c an n ot d o ub t ,

th at th e C ordilleras of Peru h ave a de n si ty co n si dera bly less

tha n th at o f th e rest of th e gl obe If we su ppose A an d 5 equal .
,

o u r e x pressio n for th e di ffere n ce o f th e att ractio n s at Quito an d

at sea lev e l w oul d beco m e i A ; wh i ch w oul d m ake th e di ff er

zr
e n ce bet wee n th e le n gth s o f th e pe n dul u m 4 ti m es too s m all or ,

th e attractio n s as th e squ are roots i n ste ad o f th e s q u ar e s o f , ,

'

th e d is t a n ces fro m th e ce n tre of th e earth Th e attr a ctio n at .

Quito woul d be less th a n at sea l evel by o n ly th e part -

an d th e p e n d ul u m w oul d be really sh orter by o n ly 9 o r 1 0 h u n

d r e d t h s o f a li n e a n d in appeara n ce by 2 o r 3 0 11 acco u n t o f t h e
, ,

di ff ere n t co n sti tu ti o n a n d te m perat u re o f th e ai r Th e di ffer .

e n ce o f th e le n gth s o f th e pe n d ul u m is cer tai n ly gre a ter Th u s .

i t i s n ecessary to ad m i t th a t th e earth i s m u ch m ore co m pact

[ T o g ive B ou g u e r s r es u l t m or e a
’
u r a tely th cc
e de n si ty of th e ea r th i s .

tim es th a t of th e Cor di l le r a s Sa igey ( 74 p 1 49) h a s m a de a r eca l u la ti on of

.
, . c
c
th ese r es u l ts with th e p r o p er r ed u tio n to va u o a n d n ds
,
He h a s don e c ,
fi
th e sa me f or de la Co n da m in e s p e n du l um exp er i men ts with a r esu l t
’
,

Fo r A dden du m , see p 1 6 0 ] .

32
 THE LAWS O F G R A V I T AT I O N

below th a n abov e an d in th e i n teri or th an a t t h e surface For

, .

th e soil o f Qui to i s like th a t o f a ll oth er cou n tri e s i t i s a m ix t

‘

ure of ear th a d sto n es with so m e m etallic co sti t ue n ts

n , n .

Th ose ph ysi cists wh o i m agi n ed a great void in th e m iddl e o f

t h e earth a n d w h o woul d h av e u s walk o n a ki n d of very thi n
,

crust c an thi n k so n o l o n ger We c an m ake n early th e sa m e

,
.

obj ectio n t o Wo o d war d s th eory o f gr e at m ass e s o f water in the

’

i terior B u t let us co n ti n u e to li m i t ou rselves to t h e facts o r

n .
,

to th e o n ly i m m ediate de d uctio s wh ich we c a n d ra w fro m th e m n .

These ded u c t io n s a r e co n fi r m e d by th e observati o n s d e scribed

in t h e n e x t ch apter wh ich is in t h e for m I gave it in Per u b e
,

fore forw a rd i g it to Fra n ce n .

ME M O I R TT R A C TI O N A N D O N TH E M A N N E R O F O B SE R V
ON A

I N C W H E TH E R M O UNT A I N S E X H IB IT IT ( R E A D A T T H E

A C A D EMI E D E S SC I E N C E S I N O C T O B E R 1 73 9 ) , ,

5 2 It is v e ry difficult n o t to acc e pt a t tracti o n as a pri n cipl e

.

o f f a ct o o f e x p e rie n c e
r Th e m ost rigid Cartesia n s like al l.
,

other ph ilosop h ers ca n ot dispe n se with i t in t hi s se n se Al l

,
n .

th ey c an d o 1 s to r e serve t o th e m sel ves t h e righ t o f e x plai n i n g

it. Si n ce all th e pla n ets circle a bou t t h e s n th ere m u st
. u ,

n ecessari ly b e a force I sh a l l n o t say sh ovi n g th e m or d rawi g

, n

t h e m b u t rath e r t ra n sporti n g th e m at each m o m e n t towards

,

t h is star N othi n g pr e ve n ts u s fro m givi n g to th i s f orce

.

th e n a m e att ra cti o n an d fro m tryi n g to assig n t o i t a phys

,

ical caus e .

[ B o g
u u er
fi m s th a t i n es ta bl is h i n g a
a r n ew p r i n c ip le i t is n ot
,

on ly n eces s a r y to p r ove th e i n s ufi ic ie n cy f
o a l l oth er s , bu t th e ir

imp os s ibil ity a ls o ] .

54 Whil e waiti n g for al l th is to h appe n i t will co n tribute

.
,

t o t h e perfectio n o f ph y si cs if we e x a m i n e m or e c a re f ully i n to
a t tractio n a s a f a ct taugh t by e x perie n ce It appear e d .

to m e th at i f al l bodies act at a dista n ce in proporti o n

“
,

to their m ass an d accord i n g to th e oth er l a ws wh i ch we k n ow

, ,

s u ch e n or m ou s m asses [ th e m ou n ta in s of P er u ] sh oul d pro

d uc e a m arked effect I am wel l a war e th a t th ey are very .

s m all co m p ared with th e wh ol e e a rth ; bu t o e c an approac h n

1 000 o r 2000 t i m es n earer th ei r c e n tre a n d if it is t ru e t ha t ,

c 33
 MEMO IRS O N

the attractio n s i n crease n t o n lysi m ply in th e sam e rati o as o

th e dist n ces di m i n ish bu t i t h e i ve r s e ratio o f th eir squ ares

a , n '
n
,

o n e ough t to h ave a ki n d of co m p e n satio n .

55 I sh all co n te n t m ys lf w ith j u sti f yi n g th is in th e case

. e

o f a si n gl e m o u n tai n c al l ed C hi m bor azo th e b ase o f wh ich ,

o n e is oblig e d to pass in goi n g f ro m th e s e sid e a t G uaya a -

qu i] to th e m or e i n h abi ted p a rt o f th e pro v i c e o f Qu ito n ,

w h ich is e n cl os e d betwe e n th e t wo ch ai n s o f m o un t ai n s h e re
f or m ed by th e C ordilleras wh o se dista n ce ap a rt is 8 or 9 ,

le agu e s C h i m borazo m u st be 3 1 00 or 3 200 t oises above th e

.

sea l e vel [ h e af ter wa r ds f ou n d it to be 3 21 7 tois es ] a d 1 700

-

, n

or 1 8 00 above th e l ev e l o f t h e pl t e u We k ow e x a ctly th e a a . n

re l ati v e h eigh ts of a l l t h e m o u n tai n s we h ave se e n b u t n o t ,

h avi g yet bee n able to co m pare an y o n e wi th s e a l e vel we

n -

are ig n ora n t o f th eir absol u te h eigh ts Ch i m bora zo h a s r oots .

wh ich e x te n d very far an d beco m e m erged in th ose of t h e

oth er m ou n tai n s so th at it is very diffi cu lt to det e r m i n e th e
,

tru e e x te n t of i ts base It m u st be m ore th an . or

t oises in dia m e ter B ut wh e n we m ou n t as h igh as possible
.
,

to wh ere th e s n ow begi n s w hich is 8 5 0 toi ses f ro m th e top ,

an d re n ders th e h igh er p a rts i n accessi ble th e m ou n tai n is sti l l ,

m ore th a n 3 5 00 toi ses in dia m e ter Th e top i n stead of ter .

,

m in a t in g in a poi n t i s rou n d ed a n d bl u n t a n d appe a rs fro m

, ,

belo w to h ave a wi d th o f 3 00 o r 400 toises Fro m th ese di .

m e n s io n s o n e c an esti m a te i ts h uge m ass In th e prese n t .

i n ves t igati o n we n e ed t o k n o w i ts h eigh t above grou n d o n ly ,

n o t above sea level E ve n so i t m u s t be

-
. cubic
toi ses in vol u m e Th is i s abou t th e T r am gm
. th part o n ly — -

o f th e globe an d th e e ff ect o f t h e a t tracti o

,
wo uld be abs o l n

u te l
y i n se n sibl e if o n e co n
,
si dere d th e qu an ti ty o f m atter
o n ly Bu t as w e c an place o u rsel ves at 1 700 o r 1 8 00 toises
.

fro m t h e c e n tr e o f gravi ty of th e m ou n tai n o r 1 900 ti m es

'

n earer to it th a n to th e ce n tre o f th e earth th is pro x i m i t y ,

ough t to i n crease th e e fi e c t abou t ti m es an d so ,

m a ke it abou t 2000 ti m e s less th a n that w hich gravitatio n

prod u ces or th e attractio n cau sed by t h e wh ole m ass of th e
,

earth Th is we g e t by e m pl oyi n g o n ly a roug h calc u lat io n

.

an d th e l ow st e sti m a tes e C al li n g th e acti o n o f th e m ou n

.

tai n 1 a d th a t f th e e a rt h 2000 t h e d irectio n of attractio n

,
n o ,

sh oul d b e d e flect e d f ro m th e vertical by abou t 1 A ’

pl u m b li n e wh ich wo uld be direct e d e xactly t o th e c e n tre o f

-

34
 TH E L A WS O F GRA V I TA T I O N

th e e arth if its m ass wer e e x pos e d to the e r t h s a t tractio n

,
a
’

al bn e ough t th e n
,
o n acco u n t o f t h e
,
c t io n o f the m ou n t ai n a ,

t o be i n cli n e d by this sa m e qua n ti ty whi ch is as w e see qu ite , , ,

co n sider a bl e .

5 6 B u t h ow c a n we recog ize th is i n cli n a tio n ; f o r al l

. n

gravit a ti n g bod ies m ust b e e qually su bj ec t t o i t an d w e ,

s e e m to l a ck t e r m o f co m pariso n It woul d b s e less to

a
?
e u

hav e recou rse to th e level su rfaces o f t h e h eaviest liquids ,

Si n ce t h e a ttractio n bei n g equally al t ered w ith r e sp e ct to

th e m thei r su r f ac e s i st e a d o f b e i n g per f ectly h ori o t al
, ,
n z n ,

m ust suffer th e sa m e i n cli n a ti o n We s e e pl ai n ly th e n th a t .

, , ,

in order to j u dge o f th e a m ou n t of th is altera t io n i t will be ,

o f n o u s e to look j ust abou t 11 s we m u st se e k a n oth er ver ,

tic a l li n e f ar o ff wh ich is subj ect to n o actio n fro m th e

m o u n t ai n B u t ag ai n h o w are we to co m p a r e o n e v e rtical
.
,

wi t h a n o t h er ; o r m easu re th e a n gle wh i ch th ey m ake i n

m e ti n g tow a rd s th e ce n tre o f th e earth a n d t hat wi t h s u f

e ,

fic ie t a ccu r a cy
n If w h ile o n th e m o u n tai n we observe wi th
?
,

the q u adran t th e h e igh t o f a poi n t f a r o ff a n d th e n go to ,

that poi n t an d m easu re t h e h eigh t o f th e f or m er place it is ,

t rue t hat by t h e d i ff er e n c e of th e s e t w o h e igh ts we c an j udge

o f th e relative posi t io s o f t h e two v e r t i c a l l i n e s
n Bu t be .

sides that we m ust k n ow th e e xa c t dis ta n c e f ro m o e to th e n

other i t wil l be n ecessary a lso to su ppose that th e vi sual ray

,

i s a straigh t li n e ; an d i t is n o t o n ly cer t i t h a t th is is o t a n n

true we k n ow th at i t is s u bj ect by re f ra cti o t o a very ir

,
n

r e gular cu rv a tu re We ca n ot deter m i e t his curva ture wi th

.
—
n n

su ffi cie n t e x a ct n ess to e n a bl e u s to fin d th e e ff ect o f th e a t

tr a ctio n It see m s to m t h erefore that w e m ust seek in
. e, ,

t h e h e a ve n s a ter m o f co m p a riso n By this m ea n s h owever .

, ,

we sh ll e a sily overco m e every d iffic ul ty ; an d wh at a m o m e t

a n

ago see m ed a n i m possibili ty beco m es at o n ce very si m ple .

5 7 We have bu t t o st a tio n o urs l ves t

. t h e n orth o to e o r

th e sou th o f a m o u n t a i n an d as n ear as possible to i ts ce tr

,
n e

o f gravi t y an d obs e rve t h e l t i tu de

, Th is observatio n c an b
a . e

m a d e wi t h th e gre a t e st accu r a cy o n ly by u si n g a quadr a t n

o r o t h er equ val e t i n stru m e n t wh ose pl u m b li e will be d e

i n -
n

fl e c t e d t ow a rd th e m ou t a i ; thi s i s t h e s m e s sayi n g th a t
n n a a

th e ze n ith will reced e f ro m th e m ou n tai Th e we m ust n . n

go east o r wes t o f t h is s ta tio to such a dista ce t h at th e a t n . n

trac t io n is n e gligibl e ; a d if we observ e th e l ati t u de in thi s

n

35
 ME MO IRS O N

seco n d pl a ce w i th th e sa m e c a re a n d w i t h th e sa m e m ea n s
as in t h e first it i s e vide n t tha t al l th e d i ff er e n ce wh ich we
,

sh all observe w ill be d u e t o attractio n I ord e r to h ave . n

t h is seco n d stati o n pr e cisely e as t o r west of t h e first w e m ust ,

observe th e azi m uth of th e s u n at i ts risi n g o r se tti n g by ,

fi di n g i ts posi ti o n wi th refere n ce to so m e e asily disti n gu ished

n

poi n t o n t h e h ori zo n i d oi ng so w e m u st o f te n suppose the

n

l ati tud e k n ow n ; bu t th e e rror we m ay m ake o n th is supposi

tio n will be of n o co n sequ e n ce an d i t w il l al ways be easy to
.

fin d tw o statio n s o n th e sa m e parall e l o f latit u d e to wi t h i n

3 or 4 si x ti e th s o f a s e co n d Th e lati tud e w ill be fou n d pre
.

c is e l
y th e sa m e in th e two places if th e vertical li n e h as n o t
,

bee n al tered in th e first Suppose h owever that w ith o u t

.
, ,

se e ki n g th e lati tud e we obs e rve si m ply th e m eridia n al ti

,

t ud es o f a star at th e t wo stati o n s ; th e di ff ere n ce o f th ese

two al ti t u des w il l i n d icate equally well t h e deflecti o n o f th e
verti cal l i n e It i s evid e n t that all th e stars w hi ch pass th e
.

m eridia n o n th e sid e o f th e appare n t verti cal li n e n e x t to th e

m ou n tai wil l appear lowe r at th e fi rst statio n th a n at th e
n

s e co n d ; f o r as t h e pl u m b l i n e approach es th e m o u n tai n th e
-

appare t ze n i th rece des f ro m i t an d fro m th e se stars It will

n .

be q uite t h e reverse wi t h th ose stars wh ich p ass th e m erid ia n

0 11 th e oth er sid e o f th e appare n t vertical li n e : they w ill ap
pear h igh er a t th e first s tatio n *
.

5 8 I n stead of taki n g th e stati o n s both to th e n orth o r bot h

.

to th e sou th we coul d take th e m o n e to th e n ort h an d th e

,

oth er to th e so uth an d e x actly o th e sa m e m eridia n ; th e n

, n

th e eff e ct of th e attracti o n wo uld be doubled roughly speak ,

in g an d we sh oul d fin d th e s u m o f the co n trar y attractio n s

,
.

Th e vertical l i n e w o u l d be i n cli n ed in opposite directio n s at

th e t wo statio n s ; an d th e al ti tu des o f stars w h ich w oul d be
i n cr eased in th e o n e w oul d be d e creased in the oth er Th e .

physical e ffect bei n g d ouble d w oul d be m ore se n sible an d ,

m or e su sceptibl e o f observatio n If th e two poi n ts were

.

e qually d ista n t f ro m th e ce n tre o f gravity o f th e m ou n t a i n ,

t h e actio n wou l d be equal at bot h an d in order to get each ,

*
[ Th is m eth od f
o c c
do u bli ng th e defle tion a u sed by the m ou n ta in by obser v ,

i ng n o t o n e s ta r , bu t a t lea s t tw o on e n or th a n d o ne sou th of th e sta tio n s

, ,

is d u e to de la Co n da m i n e . c
See h is a cou n t of the exp edition ( 8 , p a h . Zc
( )
4 9 a n d P oy n tin g ( 1 85 p , . c
Th is is th e m eth od a tu a lly emp loyed by
B oug u er .
]
36
 THE L AWS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

of th e m w e sh ou l d h ave m erely to t ake h al f of th e qua n ti ty

f u r n ish ed by th e co m p a riso n o f t h e observa ti o n s I oth e r . n

cases th e d ivi si o n wou l d be a li ttle m ore di fficu l t ; n e ve r t h e

less it woul d be suffici e n t as we sh al l sh e w l ater to divid e
, ,

th e s u m o f th e co n trary attracti o s proportio n ally to th e pro

n

d u c t s o f th e qu an tity by wh ich e ach statio n i s m ore n ort h or

m ore sou th resp e cti vely th a n t h e ce n tre f gravi ty of th e
‘

, ,
o

m ou n t a i n an d th e cube o f th e dista n ce o f th e oth er st a tio n ,

respectively f ro m t h e sa m e ce n tre Th u s w e are u n d er th e

, .

n ecessi ty o f k n owi n g th e si tuatio n o f each sta t i o n wit h ref e r

e n ce to th e m ou n tai n ; b u t w e m u st k n ow th e dis ta n ce fro m

o n e stati o n to th e oth e r a l so in ord e r to d e ter m i n e geo m etric
,

ally t h e di ff e re n ce o f l ati tud e betwee n th e m I t is evid e t . n

th at thi s di ff re n ce m ust i tself prod u c e a ch an ge in th e al tif

e

tude o f each star an d w e m u st k n ow i t be f ore we c a n tel l wh at

,

is th e d o u bl e e ff ect o f th e at t racti o n To obtai n t h e d i ff ere n ce

.

in lati tu d e o f th e t wo places i t wou ld suffice ordi n ari l y to

,

m easu re to th e eas t or to th e w e st of th e m ou n tai n a base

di rected n early n or th an d sou th a n d to for m o n th i s base t w o
,

trian g l e s wh i ch e d a t th e two st a ti o n s
n .

5 9 Thi s way o f m a ki n g tw o obse rv a ti o n s f ro m di ff e re n t

.

si d e s o f th e s am e m ou n tai n in ord er to re n der th e e ffect of th e

attr a cti o n m ore s e n si bl e see m s to m e th e m or e u s e f u l m e th od
,

as i t depe n d s l e ss o n th e pec uliari ties o f th e pl a c e s We c an .

so m eti m e s d oubl e t h e e ff ect also by m ak i n g th e first observ a

tio n a t th e n orth o f o n m ou n t ai n an d th e s e co n d at th e
e

s ou th o f a n oth er If t h e two s ta tio n s ar e n o t e x actly o n th e

.

s am e eas t an d west l i n e w e h a ve o n ly to d e ter m i n e geo m etric

,

a lly th ei r d iffere n ce o f l ati t u d e a n d take accou n t of i t in the

,

co m pariso n of th e al titu des of t h e stars .

6 0 Fi n ally it i s n o t o n ly by observatio n s m ad e at th e n orth

.
,

or at th e sou th th at we c an d iscov e r w h e th er m ou n t ai n s a e r

capabl e O f acti n g a t a d ist an c e ; i t c an b e d o n e also by o b

”

s e r a t io n s m a d e a t t h e east o r th e west ; bu t wi th th i s di ff e r
v

e n ce th a t i t wil l b e n o l o n ger a q uestio n o f obs e rvi n g l a titud e

, ,

or o f tak i g th e m erid ia n a l ti tud es of st a rs ; it will be o n ly a

n

q uesti o n o f d eter m i n i g ti m e e x actly I t app e ars to m e th at

n .

t his l a st m e th od w oul d h e o f te n preferable to th e preced i n g

o es e x c e pt that i t requ i r s t wo observ e rs Suppose th at th e
n ,
e .

first o f th es e is o n t h e east side o f a m ou tai a d th e s e co d n n ,

n n

o n t h e west side o f a noth er o r o f t h e sa m e m ou n t ai n

,
If e ach ,
.

37
 M EMO I RS O N

of th e m regulates c ar e f u l ly a ch ro n o m e ter by corresp o n d i n g al

t itu d e s i t i s evid e t that all th ese a l ti tud e s bei n g a ltere d by
,
n

th e attr a ctio n wh i ch d eflects th e p l u m b li e each c h r o n o m e -

n ,

te r will b e regul a ted as if th e m eridia n w e r e n ot e x a ctly vertie

'

a l bu t i n cli n e d below toward th e m ou n t a i n

, an d above aw ay ,

fro m i t L et u s su ppose th at th e a t tra ctio n a m ou n ts to a m in

.

o f arc a n d tha t th e t wo m ou n tai n s are o n th e eq u ator ;

.

ut e ,

th e first ch ro n o m et e r will de n ote m idday 4 seco n d s o f ti m e

too soo n an d th e o th er 4 s e co n d s too l a te Th u s n egl e ct
, .
,

in g th e differe n ce o f lo gi t u de wh i ch w e coul d e a sily fin d by

n ,

m easuri n g trigo n o m etrically th e d ista n ce o f th e two o b s e r v

e r s apart an d red u ci n g thi s dista n ce to d e grees an d m in
u t e s there w oul d be a di ffer e n ce o f 8 seco n d s of ti m e b e
,

twe e n th e t wo ch ro n o m eters If th e two m ou n tai n s i stead

. n

of bei n g o n th e equator were at lati t u de each m i n u t e of

i n cli n atio n wh i ch th e attractio n prod uced in a pl u m b l i n e -

w ou l d prod u ce 8 seco n d s o f di ff e re n ce in th e ti m e of m id
da y a n d th erefore 1 6 s e co n ds differe n ce in th e ch ro n o m et e rs
, .

Fi n al ly to j udg e of th e a ttr a cti o n w e n eed o n ly k ow th e e x ac t

,
n

d i ff er e n c e betw e e n t h e ch ro n o m eters ; an d to fin d th is i t w ou ld ,

al ways b e s u ffi cie n t to agree upo n a sig n al by fire or oth er ,

w ise ; an d to obs e rve at both s tati o n s th e m i n u te an d seco n d

of t h e i n sta n ta n eou s app e ara n c e o f thi s sig n al .

6 1 I retu r n t o th e fi rst m e th od b e cau s e i t app e ars to m e to

.

be th e si m pl e st ; th at i s su ppos e w s tatio n o ursel v e s al w ays

,
e

to th e n orth or to th e sou th of th e m ou n t ai n an d co n fi n e our

s e l ves to Observa tio n s of th e lati tu d e It is evide n t that if we .
,

t a k e a t e ach statio n th e m eri d ia n alti tu de o f o n e st a r o n ly ,

we m u st k n o w to th e l ast degree o f n icety th e co n d i tio n o f th e

quad ra n t we are u si n g Th e re is n o l a ck of m e th ods f o r veri
.

f yin g th is i n stru m e n t bu t th ere i s o n e wh ich i s e x tre m ely

,

val u able in th e pres e n t i n sta n ce becau se at th e s am e ti m e as

, ,

w e w ork at veri f yi n g th e quadra n t we are m aki n g th e o b s e r v

,

a t io n s wh i ch d ecid e th e qu estio n at i ssu e an d in th u s ab r id g

i g t h e operatio n s w e a voi d opportu n i ties for errors

n Thi s .

m e th od i s to t ak th e m e ridi an alti tudes o f an e qu l n u m b e r

e a

o f stars toward th e n orth an d toward th e sou th an d provid ed , ,

th at th e sta te of th e i n stru m e n t d oes n o t vary f ro m o n e o b s e rv

a ti o n to an o t h er i t d oes n o t m att e r if it d oes ch a n ge fro m
,

day to d y If it m ak e s t h e al ti t ud es of th e st a rs o o n e Sid e
a . n

th e z e n i t h too gr a t i t w ill pro d u c e th e sa m e e ff e ct w i th r e

e ,

38
 THE L A WS O F GRAV I TAT I O N

spect to th ose on the oth er sid e Th u s th e ch a n g e wil l in fl u .

e ce o n ly th e s u m o f t h e a l ti t u d e s or t h e co m pl m e n t s o f the
n e

al ti tudes a d will n ot al ter t h e di ffe r e n c e f t h e a l ti tud e s take n

, n o

o n th e d iffer e n t sid es T h e attr a c t io n .1 th e co n tr a ry wil l ot ,

0 1 , n

al t e r th e u m b u t will cha g e t h e di ff er e n c e ; b e c a use at t h e

s ,
n

sa m e ti m e t h a t i t m ak es t h e st a rs 0 11 o n e side t o o h igh i t m akes ,

t h e s e o t h e oth e r si de too l ow
n I t wil l a l ways be easy to s e p .

arat e th ese two causes an d we sh all o t a ttribu t e to t h e o e

, n n

that wh ich arises f ro m th e oth e r To obtai n at o n e s t roke th e .

eff e ct o f at tr a ctio n wi th ou t bei g obl ig e d to k n o w th e state Of n

the q uad ran t or t h e d ecli n a ti o n s o f th e s tars we n e d o n ly e x , e

a m i n e wh th e r th e diff ere n c e s o f th e m e rid i an al ti t ud es t ke n

e a

to w a rd s th e orth an d tow a rd s th e sou th a r e th e sa m e a t th e

n

t wo statio n s o r wh eth er they are subj e ct to a s e co n d d i ff e r

,

e cen B u t i t is n ecessary t o r e m ark th t th e altitu d e s bei n g

. a

i n cr e as e d 0 11 th e o n e sid e wh ile th ey a e di m i n ish ed 0 11 t h e r

ot h e r i t is th e h al f o f th is s e co n d d iff e re n ce wh ich de n ot e s
,

t h e physical effec t o f th e a ttracti o n both wh e n this e ff e c t i s ,

si n gl e a n d wh e n i t is do uble I thi s l a tte r case i t will be . n ,

n ec ss a ry to d ivide t h e tot l e ff e ct i th e ratio wh ich th e s e p

e a n

ara te e ff ects ough t to h a v e .

ug u er th en p r oves th is r a t io to be th a t m en t ion ed a bove ( p

[ B o .

H e adm its th a t s om e m o u n ta in s m ig h t s h e w les s a ttr a cti on

by N ew ton s la w ( or ev e n n on e) du e to th e
’
th a n th a t r eq u i r ed ,

ex is ten ce o g r ea t ca v i ties i n th e m a ss
f H e d is cu s s es th e d f er en t
if .

m ou n ta in s i n th e n e ig h bou r h ood of Qu ito, a n d f or va r iou s r ea s on s

decides up on Ch im bor a z o a s th e on e m os t s u i ta ble f or th e exp er i
m en t .
]
E XAMI N A TI O N O F TH E A TT R A C TI O N O F C H IMB O R A ZO
6 5 I di d n o t a sce n d t h i s m ou tai
. a lo e a s I d id t h e pre n n n

cedi g o n e I h a d so m e ti m e b e f o r co m m u n i cat e d m y d e sig

n . e n

a d all m y views to M
n de l C o n da m i e a d w he o n t h e
. a n , n n

poi n t o f c rryi n g the m o u t I m e n tio n ed t h e m to M de U ll o a

a .
,

o n e o f th e t wo n aval l ieu te n a n ts wh o h d a ssist e d in t h e o h a

s e r v a t io n s both o f m ysel f a d o f M d l C o n d a m i e e ver si n ce

n . e a n

o u r a rrival i th e do m ai s o f His C a th ol ic M aj e sty These

n n .

ge n tle m e n obligi n gly O ff e r e d to a cco m p a y m e n o t o ly i th e n ,

n n

prepara t ory e x a m i atio n bu t also d u ri n g t h e st y it was n e c e s s

n ,
a

ary to m ak e o n th e m ou n t ai si de ; a d a s I k e w i t woul d be n n n

to t h e adva n t age o f th e obs e rv t io s I h s te e d to ccept th e a n . a n a

39
 ME MO IRS O N

o ff er I h a d al ready th oug h t th at C hi m borazo fu lfilled ap

.

pro x i m ately th e n ecess a ry co n di ti o n s I k n e w t h at i t w as ve ry

'
easy o f acc e ss ; i t coul d be s e e n f r o m Q uito o r rath er f ro m ,

Pich i n ch a f ro m wh ich i t w as
, t oises d ista n t ; an d I h ad
al rea dy m easu red i ts h eigh t O n D ece m ber 4t h we estab
.

l is h e d ou rsel ves o n th e so u th side o f t h e m o u n tai n at t h e bot ,

t o m o f t h e s o w l i n e 829 toi ses below t h e s u m m it b u t abou t

n , ,

2400 abov e sea l e vel a n d e x actly 9 1 0 t oises a bove th e place at

-

Quito wh ere I h ave al ways m ade m y observ a tio n s an d 3 44 ,

to ises a bove th a t part o f Pi ch i n ch a wh er e t h ere i s a cross

wh ic h c an be see n f ro m a ll par t s of th e city a n d wh e re I passed ,

so m e d ays in March 1 73 7 in order to observe th e astro n o m i cal

, ,

refractio n I shal l n o t speak o f th e cold an d th e o t h er dis c o m

.

forts we h ad to pu t up wi th ; s n ow c o v e r e d o u r te n t an d a ll
'

th e grou n d aro u n d as far as 800 or 900 toises be l ow u s an d we ,

l ived in f e a r of bei n g b u ried u n d e r i ts w e ight It e eded c o . n n

t in u a l vigila n ce in order to avoid i t [ M de Ul loa f ell i l l; a n d

. .
-

h a d to des cen d th e m ou n ta i n on D ecem ber 1 5 th ] ,

n e, B oug u er a n d de la Con da m i n e obs er v ed th e a tti

[ fL e t a l o

t u des of s ta r s , 4 on th e s ou th s ide a n d 6 on th e n or th Th e .

o l lowi ng a r e th e a ttitu des a s aff ec ted by th e er r or of th e i n s tr u

f
m en t a n d by r ef r ac tion ; th ey ar e th e m ea n s of th e r ea di ng s of th e
tw o obs er ver s ]

M idier a n al t it u d e s at th e firs t s ta t o n i
O n 1 4th De c . O n 1 5 t h De c .

O n th e n o r th s i ed :
C a p e ll a
d
.

Firs t h e a o f G e m in i
d d
Se c o n h e a o f G e m in i
c d
.

Se o n h o r n o f A r ie s
Firs t h o r n o f A r ie s
d
A l e b ar a n
O n th e s o u t h s i e d
A c a r n ar
Can o p u s
T a il o f C e tu s

68We observed th e m eri dia n al ti tude o f t h e s u n th ree

.

ti m es D e la C o n d a m i n e fou n d i t a t th e lower edge o n D e

.

ce m b o r 1 5 th to be 6 7 54 Th is al titu de w h ic h i s c o r
° ’
,

r e c te d for th e error o f th e i n stru m e n t bu t n o t for refracti o n ,

40
 TH E LA WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

an d paralla x gi ves 1 29 5 3 so u th for th e l a titu de o f the

,
° ’

place w here w e w e r e I obs e rv e d it o n th e 5 t h an d 1 2th ; o n

.

t h e 5 th we had n o t ye t reg lat e d t h e ch ro n o m et er n o r traced

’

t h e m e ridia n d I fo u n d 1 O n the 1 2th I observed

° '
30 16
n, a

t h e a pp a re n t a ltit ud e o f th e lo wer edge o f th e s u n to be

68 5
°
whi ch gives 1 3 0 6
’ ° '

6 9 As soo n as we were es ta blish ed o n Ch i m borazo I had se n t

.
,

a te n t a bou t a league an d a half to the west to a place called

l A r en a l to serv e as th e seco n d statio n [ ug u er th en des cr ibes

’

B
’
o .

th e m eas u r e me n ts m a de to fin d th e ex a ct p os i tion of th e s econ d

s ta t ion ; i t w a s 3 5 70 tois es dis ta n t f r om th e fi r s t, 1 74 tois es low er ,

a n d s om ewh a t s ou th o f w es t f it
o . Th ey bega n th eir obs er va tion s
f r om th e s econ d s ta tion on D ec . 1 6 th H er e th ey s ufier ed m or e
.

f r om th e w in d a n d cold th a n at th e m or e eleva ted s ta tion , as th ey

w er e m or e to th e p r eva ili ng ea st w in d
exp os ed It fi lled th eir .

eyes w ith d u s t a n d con tin u a l ly th r ea ten ed to ov er tu r n th e ten ts *

.

Th e f th
s cr ews o
e q u a dr a n t cou ld n ot be tu r n ed a t n ig h t w i th ou t
app l i n g h ea t to th em T h en f ollow s a ta ble of th e a lt itu des a s
y .

obs er ved Sin ce t h e secon d s ta tion w as 505 toises , or

. s ou th
"
f
o th e fir s t , w e m u s t i n cr eas e by 3 2 a ll th e a lt itu des o
f s tar s ob

s er ved tow a r d th e n or th , a n d
dim in is h th e oth er s by th e s a me
a m ou n t M or eover , s i n ce th e s econ d s ta tion w as low er th an th e
.

r s t by 1 74 to is es , th e a ltitu des obs er ved a t th e s econ d s ta tion

fi .

m u s t be dimi n is h ed to r edu ce th em to th e level of th e fir s t on a c

, ,

cou n t of the ex ces s of a s tr on omica l r ef r a c tion T h e f ollowi n g .

ar e th e cor r ec ted a l ti tu des , a n d th e dif er e n ces f or ea ch s ta r o f

th e m ea n deter m i n a tion s at th e tw o s ta ti on s

[ For de l a Co n da m i n e s
’
a cco u n t o f the c a
p er ime n ts , see h is Jour n a l (8 ,

p . 69 a nd 8al , p t 2 p
.
, .

41
 ME MO IRS O N

CO R R E CT E D A LTIT U DE S A T TH E SE CO ND STA TIO N E x c e ss o f al t t u i d es

a t t h e fir s t s ta t i on

s e co n d ,
a f te r th e

O n 21 s t De c . O n 22d De c la tte r h av e be ? "

.

c o r r e c te d

th e n o r th s i d e
42 49 1 0 42 49 1 5
Fir s t h e a d of

c
Se o n d h e a d G e m in i
of 59 53 23 }
1

d
.

Se c o n h o r n o f A r ie s . 6 6 1 6 59 66 17 16
Fir s t h o r n o f A r ie s 6 8 59 6 68 59 11
A l de b a r a n 72 32 3 15 1 72 32 36 5
1

th e s o u th s i e d
A c ar n ar . . 32 56 53 32 56 28
C an o p u s . 3 8 5 7 16 3 8 57 3 6
T a il o f C e tu s 72 4 4 7} 1 72 4 50
75 8 0 75 8 71}

[ B oug u er c on s ider s th e obs er v a t ion s on th e ta i l o f Cetu s an d

th e fir s t h or n f A r ies th e bes t, bu t th i n ks it m os t leg itim a te

‘

o as

to ta ke th e m ea n f th e a l ti tu des of ea ch s ta r a t each s ta t ion a n d

'

to g iv e eq u a l w eig h t to th eir diff er en c es . Th es e difier e n ces

_ ar e

g i ven i n t h e l a s t c ol u m n f
o th e p r ec edi n g ta ble a n d a r e h e m a i n , ,

ta in s too larg e a n d too u n if or m to be du e to a n y def ec t i n th e ob

,

s er v a ti on s T h e a ver ag es of th e ex ces s of a ll th e s tar s o n th e

.

n or th s ide a n d a ll th os e on th e s ou th s ide a r e n e w to be ta ken ]

74 . Th ey gi e a bou t 1 1 9 as t h e m ea n e x cess f o r th e
v
’ "

n orth s t ars an d 1 3 4
,
for th e sou th Th e seco n d di ff e r e n c e i s
’
.

I leave i t t o m y readers to say wh eth er su ch a q ua n tity

is su ffi ci e n tly establish ed by t h e m ea n s e m ployed My quad .

ra n t was f t in radi us an d i t m u st be r e m arked th at an y

.
,

e rrors whi c h m ay e x ist in its grad uati o n are of n o i m por t a n ce

h e re si n ce w e h ave to d o n o t with th e al tit ud e s th em sel v e s ,

bu t wi th th ei r d iffe re n c e s Suppose w e ad m i t th e i t wi l l
.

giv e for th e effect of attractio n ; i t w oul d be m u ch great e r

i f we co m p ared th e tail o f Cetu s wi t h t h e firs t h or n o f Aries .

However th is i s n o t th e co m pl ete an d absol ute e ff ect ; f o r if

a t t ractio n really takes place th e m ou n tai n m u st h ave so m e ,

effect at t h e seco n d statio n wh i ch was abo u t 45 72 toises fro m ,

th e ce n tre o f th e m ou n t ai n a n d to th e wes t o f so uth ,

.

A t th e first statio n we were n early 1 6 w est o f sou th an d 1 753

°
,

m isp r i n t f or 1 16
'

[ Th is is eviden tly a

42
 THE L A WS O F G R AV I TA T I O N

toises di stan t Fro m th es e data we fin d th at th e effect at th e

.

n e arer statio n is to th e e ff ect we ough t to fin d at t h e oth e r as

’

1 3 58 : 1 00 o r as 3 1 5 1 n earl y
,
1 3 B u t si n ce o u r Observatio n s .

give o n ly th e differe n ce o f th e two e ffects we m u st i n cr e ase ,

by a 1 3 th or 1 4th par t of i tself in order to h ave th e total

e ff e ct ch m a kes it
[ w h i
75 We m ust ad m i t that th is e fi e c t i s very d i ff ere n t fro m
.

wha t we h ad e x pected B u t w e k n ow so li t tl e abou t th e .

eart h s d e n si ty an d o n th e oth er h a n d th at of th e m ou n tai n

’
,

m ay be so difl e re n t fro m that wh ich we h ave assu m ed i t to be

’
,

th at th ere is n o reaso n to be s urprised at a n ythi n g [ It is a .

*

tr a dition a m on g th e n a tives th a t Ch im bor az o is an ex tin ct v ol

ca n e , a n d, its den s ity w ou ld be v er y h ar d to es t im a te

if s o, .

B oug u er thin ks it m ig h t be better to exp er im en t on s m a ller a n d

den s er m ou n ta i n s ] It i s very probabl e t h at we sh all fin d in
Fra n ce o r in E n gla n d so m e h ill o f su fficie n t size especially i f ,

we do uble th e eff ect ; an d I sh all be deligh ted if I fin d o n m y

retu r n that th e e x peri m e n ts th at shall h ave bee n m ad e eith er
co n fi r m m i n e or throw n e w l igh t o n th e m a t ter [ At R ioba m ba .

i Per u D e c e m ber 3 0 1 73 8 ]
n , ,

[ I n an app en dix B oug u er m or e th or ough

s ta tes th a t a
f ter a

o th e Cor d ille r a s h e f a i led to f in d a m or e s a tisf a c tor

s u r ve
y f y
p l ace a t w hi ch to r ep ea t h i s ex er im en t
p H e s u gg es ts th a t th e .

con v er s e e ect be exp er im en ted up on v iz , th e decr eas e in

fi g r a v .

ity du e to s om e deep canon a mon g mou n ta in s A s s u m in g s u ch .

g r ea t ca v iti es i n C h i m b or a z o a s w ou ld m a k e i ts r ea l on l
y h a lf
i ts app a r en t v olu me, h e fi n ds h i s r es u lts w ou ld m a ke i t 6 or
7 tim es } less den se th an th e ea r th ; th is h e th in ks n ot u n r ea s on

[ D e l a Co n da m in e a lso la id l i ttle s tr ess o n the n u m er i a l 7 esu l t o the

f p lu m b c
li ne exp e r i men t , f or h e says ( 8 p if w e c a n d
, ed u ce f r om i t n o th in g
.

decis ively i n f a vo ur of th e New ton ia n a ttr a tion a t leas t we f in d n o th in g eon c ,

tr a r y to tha t
‘
1 [ I n a r icti a l acn a ly s of a ll th e exp er i m en ts m a de to de ter m i ne the de n si ty
si
of th e ea r th u p to th a t ti me Sa ig ey ( 74 p 1 5 1 a n d i n h is
.
“
Peti te Physiq u e d a
, .

”
G lobe, Pa r is 1 842 p t 2 p
, , i n 1842 s ta ted th a t B o ug u e r s a l u la tio n s
.
, .
,
’
c c
c c
wer e er r on eou s , beca u se h e onf u sed th e e n tr e of a tt r a tio n wi th the en tr e of c c
g r a vi ty f h e m ou n ta i n ; he r ef er s to a m e tho d by mea n s of wh i h u si n g
o t , c ,

B ou g u er s ow n m ea n r esu l t h e dedu ed th e den si ty of the ea r th to be

’
, c
tim es tha t of the m o u n ta in bu t a dds tha t if h e h a d u sed o n ly th e r esu l ts f r om
obse r va tio n s o n the ta il of Cetu s a n d the fi
r s t h or n ‘if A r ies th e r esu l t w ou ld ,

h a ve been c c
wh i h i s a l m os t exa tly th e sa m e a s th a t f ou n d by M a skelyn e by
th e sa m e m eth od f o r th e h ill Seh eha ll ie n ] .

43
 MEMO I RS O N TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

a bl e . B oug u er . f u r th er r em ar ks th a t th e dis tr ibu tion f den s ity o

i n th e ear th m ay be s u ch th a t th e 7n ax 7?7 nu m a ttr a cti on of th e

.
o

ea r th i s n ot a t i ts s u r a ce bu t a t s om e dis tan ce ben ea th i i

f .

[ In con n ection f w i th th is w or k
B ou g u e r s h ou l d b
o e r e a d a

a
p p er ( )p
9 r es en ted by h i m t o th e A ca d em y 0 7
7 A p r il 2 8 ,
1 75 6 ,

i i etectin g th e de ecti on of a m b i
on th e
p os s ib l ty fo d fl p l u l n e d u e
-

to th e ebb a n d f l ow of th e tide .

Va lu a ble accou n ts a n d d is cu s s ion s of B oug u er s w or k i n P er u

’

ar e g iv en by v an Za ch ( 43 , 44, a n d Sch m i dt ( 6 4 v ol 2, , .

p . T o dh u n ter ( 1 40 c h ap Z a n o t ti. B i an .c o p t -
.

2, pp . 1 22 an d P oyn ti n g ( 1 8 5 , pp
. 10

P IE R R EB O U G U E R was bor n in 1 6 98 at C roisic Bretag n e an d , ,

was ed u cated at th e Jesui t C ollege at Va n n es H e su cceeded .

h i s fath er as professor o f hyd rography at C roi si c in 1 71 3 an d ,

in 1 73 0 accepted a si m ilar posi ti o n at Havre Hi s i n v e stiga .

t io n s co n cer n i n g t h e i n te n sity o f l igh t e m bodi ed in a work , ,

E ssa i d o t
p qi u e s
’
u r l a g r a d a ti on d e l a l u m i er e p ublish ed in ,
.

1 729 le d to h is b e i n g elec t e d a m e m ber o f th e Acade m y o f

,

Scie n ces in 1 73 1 ; h e was pro m oted to th e offi ce o f p e n sio n ed

astro n o m er in 1 73 5 Al o n g wi th tw o oth er m e m bers o f th e
.

Acade m y M M d e l a C o n da m i n e an d Godi n h e was s e n t to

, .
,

P e r u in 1 73 5 to m eas u re th e le n gth o f an arc o f th e m eri dia n

n ear th e equator Th ei r l a bors th ere lasted te n years a n d t h e
.
,

r e sul ts of th ei r observatio n s were p ub lish ed in 1 749 in L a

Fig u r e de la T or r e fro m wh i ch we h ave give n th e prece d i n g e x
,

tracts For severa l years a f terward s Bouguer was e n g aged in

.

a bitter co n troversy w i th d e l a C o n da m i n e co n cer n i n g th ei r r e

s p e c t ive sh ares in th e P e r u via n research es In addi tio n t o h is .

w orks o n ph oto m etry h e p u blish ed severa l val u abl e tr e a tises

,

o n n avigatio n an d v ari ou s p a pers o n a t m osph e ric re fr acti o n

,

a n d oth er opti cal proble m s a n d o n m ech a n ics ,

He di e d a t . .

Pa ris in 1 75 8 .

44
TH E B E R T I E R C ONT R O V E R SY
 TH E B E R T I E R C ONT R O V E R SY

IN Ju n e , 1 76 9 , th ere appeared in th e Jou r n a l des Sc ien ces et

des B ea u x A r ts a l e tter ( 1 1 ) by a M C o u l t au d w h o s ig n e d .
, .

hi m self For m er Prof e ssor Of Physi cs a t T u ri n In i t h e de .

scribed so m e pe n d ul u m e x peri m e n t s m a de in th e Alps of Savoy .

H e clai m ed to h ave f ou n d th a t at a h eigh t o f 1 0 8 5 toi ses above

th e base o f th e m ou n t a i n th e pe n d ul u m ga i n ed 28 in 2 m o n ths ; '

20 22 in 3 m o n t h s at a h eigh t o f 5 1 4 toises ; an d 1 5 4 in 1 75
' " ’ ”

days at a h eigh t o f 21 0 toises So that i t appeared as if th e .

attrac ti o n o f gra vi t ati o n i n creased wi th th e d ista n ce fro m t h e

earth s ce n tre i n stead o f beh avi n g accordi n g to th e N ewto n i an
’
,

law A full accou n t o f th e a pparatus an d observ a ti o n s wa s

.

a d ded an d th e re see m ed n o r e aso n why crede n ce sh ou ld n o t be

,

gi ve n to th e resu lts Th e advocates of th e N ewto n ia n th e ory

.

f e l t called upo n to acco u n t f o r th i s ph e n o m e n o n co n siste n t

ly with thei r doctri n e
D A l e m b e r t ( 1 2 an d 1 3 v o l 6 pp
’
. .
, ,
.

8 5 9 2) attack ed the probl e m an d fou n d th a t th e N ewto n ia n

—

theory was a dequate to e x plai n th e fac t provided th e m ean ,

d e n sity o f th e eart h were a bo u t th ree eigh th s o f t h at of th e

m ou n tai n A n abs t ract o f C o u l ta u d s alleged observatio n s is
* ’
.

give n by Davi d
In Dec 1 771 a n oth er l e tter a ppeared in th e sa m e j o u r n al
.
, ,

( )
1 5 sig n ed by o n e M e rcier an d add r e ssed to
,
Gess n er Pro ,

f e s s o r o f Physi cs in th e U n i v of Ge n eva It described e x p e r i

. .

m e n ts m ad in Valois si m ilar to th ose of C o u l ta u d an d with

e

si m i lar resul ts n a m ely th at th e attrac tio n o f gravi ta t i o n i s

, ,

di r ectly proporti o n a l to t h e square o f th e di s t an ce D A le m

’
.

b e rt th e n d iscussed t h e questio n agai ( 1 3 v o l 6 pp 93 n ,

.
,
.

F urth er e x pla n atio n s on th e N e wt o n ia n theory were forth

C o m p ar e th e c o n c l u s io n o f Bo u g u e r on p 31.
‘

of th is v l u m e o .

47
 ME MO IRS O N

co m i n g fro m L e Sage ( 1 6 ) an d L al a n d e R o iff é al so di s

cusse d t h e e x peri m e n ts
Th ese resul ts o f C o u l tau d an d Merci er see m h owever to , ,

h ave bee n a cause o f great e x ul tatio n to a certai n n u m ber o f -

scie n tists esp e cially e cclesiastics wh o co n te n d ed th at th e N e w

, ,

t o n ian s wi sh ed to t a ke f ro m th e m th e i r F a th er th ei r G o d in , ,

asserti n g th a t bodies a ttr a ct an d m ove o f th e m sel v e s with out

an
y Pri m e Mover It i s h ard . t o believ e th at th is f e el i n g
e x ist e d so late as a c e n tu ry ago O e o f th e m ost ac tive o f . n

th e oppo e n ts o f th e t h eory o f N ew to n was F a th er Bertier

n ,

d e l O r a t o ir e w h o f o u n d e d h i s 4 t h vol u m e of L es P r i n cip es
’
,

P h ys i q u es o n th e a bov e e x p e ri m e n ts Fo r several years a war m

.

discussio n raged a m o n g Fre n ch ph ysicists ov e r th e qu e sti o n .

L e Sag e h avi n g h ad his s u spicio n s arous e d by so m e p ass age

,

in Mercier s le t t r bega n a carefu l i n v e stigatio n i n t o t h e g e n

’
e ,

u in en e s s of t h e e x p e ri m e n ts both o f C o u l ta u d a n d M e rcier .

H e fou n d th e m to b e f abricatio n s fro m begi n i n g to e n d n

L e Sage d o e s n o t m e n t i o n wh o m he suppos e s to be th e p
e tr a t o r s o r i n stigators of th e fraud
p .

A n e w i m petu s w as giv e n to th e di scu ssio n by th e publ ica

ti o n o f 2 l e t ters ( 20 ) fro m F a th er Bertier descri bi n g e xp e r i
m e n ts wi th t h e b al an oe si m ilar t o th ose perfor m ed by m e m b e r
'

of th e R oyal Soci e ty of L o n d o n a ce n tu ry befor e b u t Bertier

writ e s as if th e id e a wer e e n ti rely a n e w o n e Th e le n gth of .

th e stri n g u sed to su spe n d th e weigh t f ro m o n e a r m o f th e

bala n c e after it h ad bee n cou n terpoised in th e p an above was
, ,

In o n e case weigh t s o f 25 lbs w e re u se d an d wh e n o n e

'

74 f t . .
,

of the m was su sp e n d ed at th e e n d o f t h e stri n g i t lost in weigh t

1 ou n ce d rach m s B e r tier co n cl u ded m u ch to h is s atisf a c
.
,

tio n th at bodies weigh m ore th e farther th ey are fro m th e

,

ce n tre o f th e ear t h R oiff e foll owed with a paper ( 21 ) d isc uss

.

in g th e e x peri m e n ts m ad e th us f ar a n d re m arki n g th at Berti e r

h ad n o t tak e n accou n t o f th e differe n ce in t h e de n sity o f th e
ai r at th e tw o l ev e ls L e Sage also cri ti cised B e rtier very
.

h a rshly R epeti tio n s of B e r tie r s e x peri m e t w ere m ad e

’
n

by M David an d Fath e rs C o tt e an d Bertier

.
,
th e o n e with
a stri n g o f 1 70 f t an d weigh ts o f 1 220 l bs th e oth ers wi th
. .
,

a stri n g o f 45 ft an d w e igh ts o f 1 5 0 lbs Th e o n e reported a

. .

l oss in w eigh t of 1 o z th e oth ers o f 2 l bs in th e s a m e dirc o

.
,
.
,

tio n as i n dicated by B e r tie r s first e x peri m e n t A n artic l e by

’
.

Davi d ( 24) in a n swer t o L e Sage co n tai n s so m e scor n ful strict

48
 THE L A WS O F GRAV I TATI O N

ures on N ewto n h is pri n ciples wh i ch for m a m u si n g read

an d
in g at th is late da t e R ozier ( 25) criticised al l th e e x p e i
. r

me n ts m ade o n th e laws o f gravitati o n ; h e re f ers to so m e

m ore m ade by Berti er ( 26 ) fro m which th e latter co n cl uded
th at th e loss in weigh t was proportio n al to th e le n gth o f s t ri n g
an d to th e weigh t R ozier th e n a n n ou n ced th e d e tail s of so m e
.

e x peri m e ts o f a si m ilar k i n d m ade by h i m sel f wh ich gav e

n ,

qui te discordan t resul ts Davi d wrote a n oth er letter ( 27) wi th

.

m or e d etails o f hi s e x peri m e n ts bu t add i n g n oth i n g o f val u e

, .

B er t i e r foll owed wi th a si m il r l e tt e r a A co m m i ttee f o

th e Acad e m y of Dij o n repea t ed th e e x peri m e n ts w i th a s e n s it

ive bala n ce an d fou n d ( 29 ) n o ch a n ge in weigh t e x cept th a t
,

d u e to th e d iffere n t de n sities o f th e air at t h e h igh er an d

lower l ev e ls So m e e xperi m e n ts o n thi s sa m e s ubj e ct were
.

m ade by h e fou n d by usi n g first a stri n g a n d

th e n a brass ch ai n wit h wh ich to s u spe n d th e m asses th a t th e ,

cha n ges in weigh t o f th e suspe n ded m ass co ul d be ascribed to

variati o n s in th e te m perat u re a n d d a m p ess of th e ai r Dol o n .

m ie u ( 3 0) m ade so m e e x peri m e n ts wi th a weigh t suspe n d ed in

a mine ,
si m ilar to t h ose o f D r Po wer ( page . h is resul ts
per m itted n o d efi n i te co n cl usio n s as to ch an ge in weigh t In .

co n n ectio n w ith th is wor k we m igh t n oti ce a v al uabl e arti cl e

by L e Sage ( 3 4) o n t h e h i story o f th e th e ory o f gravi tati o n a n d
th e e x peri m e n ts m ade co ncer n i n g i t He gi v e s a bri ef accou n t
.

o f th e vi e w s o f Gilber t Baco n Kepl er B e a u g r an d Fer m at

, , , , ,

Pascal R oberval D e scartes an d Gasse n d i fi n ally h e di s

, , ,

cusses D o l o m ie u s e xperi m e n ts an d t h e possible variati o n in

’

d e n si ty be n e ath th e su rface of th e e arth .

Th e co n troversy clo se s wi th th e appeara n ce o f a letter ( 3 6 )

fro m Ber tier m a ki n g a n h u m bl e r e tractio n o f h is s ta te m e n ts
reg a rdi n g th e d e du c tio n s to be d raw n fro m h is e x peri m e n t ; h e
ad m its th at s uch e x p e ri m e n t s d o n o t prove th at bodies weigh
m ore as th ey a r e f arther f ro m th e e a rth b u t h e decli n es to gi ve
,

u p h is beli e f th at su ch is th e case He agai n i n veigh s agai n s t

.

th ose wh o by m ea n s o f 1 01 diff e r e n t la ws whi ch th ey m ake ,

God cr e a t e t o cover t h eir ig n ora n ce e x plai n eve ryt h i n g wi th a

,

fa cility th a t is truly deligh tful .

”

D 49
TH E SCH E H A L LIE N E XP E R I M E NT

51
 TH E SCH E H A L L IE N E XP E R I M E NT

IN 1 772, Maskely n e th e E n gl ish Astro n o m er R oyal pro

, ,

posed to th e R oyal Society ( 3 1 ) th at th e e x p e ri m e n t of B o n

guer o n th e a ttractio n o f a m o u n t a i n be rep e a ted iii Gre a t

Britai n as Bougu er h i m self h ad suggested 3 0 y ears before
, .

Maskely n e h ad bee n i n f or m ed o f two pl a ces wh i ch m igh t be

co n ve n ie n t for th e p u rpose O n e was n ear th e co n fi n es of
.

Y orksh i re an d L a n cashi re o n th e h ill Wh e r n s ide ; th e oth er

,

in C u m b e rla n d o n th e hil l Helvelly n

,
Th e proposal wa s
.

f avou rably received by th e Society a n d M r C h a rl es Maso n w a s

, .

se n t to e x m i n e v a ri ou s hills in E n gl an d a n d Scotl an d an d to
a ,

s e lec t th e m ost suitable Maso n f ou n d th at th e tw o h ills

re f erred to by Maskely n e were n o t s ui table ; an d fi xe d u po n
Sc h e h a llie n in Perth sh i re as off e ri n g th e best si tuatio n At .

t h e ear n es t soli ci tati o n of th e R oyal Society Maskely n e h im ,

sel f u n dertook to m ake t h e n ecessar y observatio n s He h a d t . a

his d isposal a 1 0 f oot ze n i t h sector an d all h is oth er in s t r u

-

m e n ts w e re th e best o f thei r ki n d a t t h e ti m e T h e work was .

begu n in th e s u m m er o f 1 774 Th e m e th od of fi n di n g t h e d e
.

fl e c t io n o f t h e pl u m b li n e d u e to t h e h ill was e x actly th e seco n d

-

o f th e m e th ods describ e d by Bouguer page e took read

( h
i n gs o f t h e ze n i th dista n c e s of c e r t ai n stars at t wo stati o n s o n e
-

n orth an d o n e sou th o f t h e h ill a n d by t h is m ea n s d oubled t h e

,

deflectio n o f th e pl u m b l i n e Betwee n Ju n e 3 0th an d Septe m

-
.

ber 22d h e t ook 1 6 9 star Observ a tio n s fro m th e sou t h s t atio n .

an d 1 6 8 f ro m t h e n ort h stati o n ; in all 3 3 7 observatio n s o n 43

s t rs At th e sa m e ti m e a v e ry elaborate su rvey by t ria n g ul a

a .

tio n was m ad e o f th e di m e n si o n s n d f or m o f t h e h i ll This

a .

was co n sid e red as m ad e u p o f a ve ry l arg e n u m b e r o f pris m s ,

sufficie n t dat a f o r t h e d e ter m i n atio o f each of wh ich w e r c o l

n e

l e c te d d uri n g th e s u rvey .

53
 IRS
“

ME MO O N

In h i s paper ( 3 2) describi n g th e operati o n s Maskely n e c al ,

c a lates fro m 40 o n ly ou t of th e 3 3 7 Observati o n s th at th e ap

, ,

pare n t diff ere n ce o f lati tud e b e t we e ri th e two stati o n s is

T h e tr ue differe n ce of la t i tude i s l eavi n g d ue to th e
co n trary attracti o n s of th e h ill .

Fro m a roug h cal cu latio n assu m i n g th e d e n sity of th e ,

m ou n tai n to be t h e sa m e as th e m e an de n sity o f t h e earth ,

an d th at th e l a w o f attracti o n is th at O f th e i n verse squ are

of th e dista n ce Maskely n e fou n d that th e attracti o n sh oul d b e
,

twice th at fou n d by observatio n He n ce th e m ea n d e n si ty o f .

th e eart h is twi ce th at o f t h e h i ll A m or e e xact cal culati o n .

was pro m ised for th e f u tu re M a skely n e d raws two m ai n c on .

c l u s io n s : tha t Sc h e h allie n h as an attracti o n an d so th ere , ,

fore h as every m ou n t ai n ;
, that th e i n verse square law o f
th e dista n ce is co n fir m ed ; for i f th e force wer e o n ly a li t tl e
a ffecte d by th e d ista n ce th e attracti o n of th e h ill wou ld be ,

wh olly i n se n sible .

Th e su rvey o f th e h ill an d i ts e n vi ro n s was m ade d u ri n g th e

years 1 774 1 775 an d 1 776 T h e cal cul a tio n o f t h attrac t i o n
,
. e

o f th e h il l fro m th es e m e asure m e n ts w as u n dertak e n by H ut

t o n r wh o e m pl oy e d sev e r a l n e w an d in t e resti n g m eth ods

,
’
A .

f ull a cco u n t wil l b e f o u n d in h is paper ( 3 7 an d 4 7 v ol , .

pp 1 . Assu m i n g that th e d e n si ty o f th e h ill is th e sa m e

a s th e m ea n de n sity o f th e earth H u tto n fou n d th at th e att rac ,

tio n o f t h e earth i s to th e s u m o f t h e co n trary attracti o n s o f

t h e h i ll as 993 3 : 1 N o w Mask e l y n e h ad fou n d t h e d eflecti o n
.

d ue to th e co n trary at t racti o n s of th e h i ll to be wh e n ce
t h e attr a cti o n of th e eart h i s to th e s u m o f th e attrac t io n s o f
th e h ill as 1 : t an or as 1 778 1 :1 ; o r allowi n g for th e
.
,

V (
on49 A pp pp Z cha 6 8 6 —
692) h as c al c u l a te d t h e r e s u l ts f ro m al l
, .
, .

O f t h e 3 3 7 O b s e r v a t io n s a n d fi n s f o r t h e ap p ar e n t ,iff e r e n e o f l at it u e d d c d
flc
54 6 51 a n d f o r t h e d e e t io n d u e t o th e o n t r ary a tt r a t io n s o f t h e h ill
.
,
c c
. c
1 1 6 3 2 w h i h is in e n t ir e a o r w ith M a s k e l y n e s al u l a tio n s cc d
Saig e y
’
c c .

( 74 p 53 )
,
1 a l s o s u bje t e t he r e s u t o s c d
l t a t e t w h ic h w a s s at is f a to r y ?
c
Z a n o tt i B ia n o s t a t e s ( 1 48 5
-

c
p t 2 p 1 34) t h at Sa ig e y m a in tain e d th at
, .
, .

M as k e l y n e d id n ot C h o o se h is s ta tio n a t t h e m os t f av o u r a b le p ar t o f the
h il l s i
”
-
d e , an d th at if h e h ad d o n e so h e w o ul d h av e f o u n d th e d fl e e c t io n

14 in s te ad of

[ Fo r H u tt o n
’
s ow n e s t im a te o f h is s h af e in t h e w o r a n d fo r h is c o n k .
:
te m p t f o r C a v e n di h p
s
’
s ex e r im e n t , se e b ib ] N o 45. Fo r a g o o d ac c o u n t
. .

H u tt o n s m e o o th d f c lc u l a t io n , Z an o t t i B ia n c ( 1485 p t 2 p p 1 26
’
of a se e -

o , .
, .

s e e al so H e l m e r t ( 148 ,
v ol . 2 p p 36 8
,
.

54
 THE L AWS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

ce n trifugal f orce as 1 7804 :1 n early H e n c th e m e a de n sity

,
. e n

o f th e earth is to t h e de n sity o f th e h ill as 1 78 0 4 9 9 3 3 or as ,

9 : 5 n early Assu m i n g t h e specific gravity o f th e h ill to be

.

a bo ut H u tto n re m arks that th is wou l d give as th e

m ea n specific gr a vi ty o f th e earth H u tto n r e vised thi s resul t .

in h i s “
Trac t s ( 47 vol 2 p h e t a kes t h e specific
”
.
,
.
,

gravi ty o f th e h ill as 3 an d h e n ce the specific gravity o f th e

“

e a rth woul d be n early .

Play f air wi th th e aid o f L ord Webb Sey m ou r m ad e a c a re

, ,

ful l ith ological su rvey o f Sc h eh allie n an d p ubli sh ed h i s re ,

s u l ts in 1 8 1 1 ( 46 a n d He f ou n d th a t th e h il l w as m ad e
u p of two classes o f rock quartz o f specific gravi t y 2 6 3 98 76 , ,

a n d m icaceous rock i n cl u di n g calcareous o f specific gr a vi ty

, ,

Fro m two supposi ti o n s as to t h e d istributi o n (if th es e

two co m po n e n ts in th e i n terior of th e h ill u si n g H u t to n s da t a ,
’

for th e a t tracti o n Play f air calcu lated th e m ea n d e n si ty o f th e

,

earth to be an d r e specti v e ly Play f air c o n .

s ide r e d t h e e x peri m e n t o n Sc h e h al lie n so e x a ct that h e took th e

m ea n of the a bove r e sul ts as th e best d e ter m i n a ti o n o f

,

th e m ea n d e n si ty o f th e earth .

Hu tto n prefers to take as th e m e a n o f Playfa ir s deter ’

m in a t io n s f o r th e de n si ty o f th e h ill a n d th e de n si ty of t h e ,

ear t h as 3g o f , o r 5 n early In a p a per p ublish ed in 1 8 21

.

( 5 2 , 5 3 an d H u tto n co m plai n s that h is sh are in th e Sch e

h all ie n e x peri m e n t h as al ways bee n u n d eresti m ated h e giv e s

a brief accou n t o f the observatio n s cal culati o n s a n d resul ts , ,

a n d co n siders 5 a s th e m ost probabl e val u e o f th e m ea n de n sity

o f th e earth He sh ews th at the Sc h e h al l ie n e x peri m e n t coul d

.

n o t be m ad e to give th e sa m e resul t as th at o f Cav e n di sh ,

u n less th e d eflecti o n be di m i n i sh ed to abou t or

wh i ch is m an i f e s tly too gre a t an e rror to h ave be en

co m m i tted by Maskely n e co n sideri n g t he a ccu racy of t h e ,

observer an d o f th e i n stru m e n ts an d th e large n u m b e r o f b ,

o

s e r v a t io n s m ade H u tto n suggests th e repetitio n o f th e e x

.

p e r im e n t at o n e o f th e pyra m id s in E gypt S o m e y e a rs l a t e r .
"

Peters ( 805) m ade a calc ulatio n o f th e attractio n of t h e G r e a t

7

Pyra m id .

For brief accou n ts o f th e Sch e h al l ie n e x peri m e n t an d c r iti

c is m s u p o n i t re f e re n ce sh ou ld be m ad e to H u t t o n ( 3 8 a d 47
,
n ,

v ol . 2 pp 6 9
, . v o n Zach ( 43 44 an d M u n c k ( 6 1 vol ,
e , .

3 pp 944
, . Sch m id t ( 6 4 vol 2 pp 474 Me n abrea
,
.
, .

55
ME MO IRS O N THE L AWS O F GRAV ITATIO N

Sch e ll Todh u n ter ( 1 40 vol 1 pp 45 9 , Za n otti

.
,
.

Bia n co ( 1 485 pt 2 pp 1 25 3 5 ) a d Fresd or f ( 1 8 6 5 pp 5

,
.
, .
—
n , .

Capt Jacob has r e m a rked ( 1 1 8 a fid 1 21 ) that by th is m e t h od

.

we m ay m easu re th e attracti o n O f th e m ass o f th e m ou n tai n

a bov e th e su rf a ce y e t
, w e d o o t k n ow h
n ow m u ch ough t to be
adde d o r subtracted du e to th a t below i t .

V o n Zach m akes m e n tio n o f sever a l early astro n o m ers wh o

assig n an o m al i e s in th eir geod e ti c m easu r e m e n ts to th e i n flue n c e
o f m ou n t a i n s o n t h e pl u m b li n e s of th ei r i n stru m e n ts ; th e
-

read er is re f e rred to Vo n Z a ch H u m bold t ( 82 vol 1 n otes

, , .
, ,

n d H e l m e rt vol chap to th e
pp . 4 5 —
7 ) a ( 1 4 8 2 , a n
. d , a c .

cou n t in th is vol u m e ( p 1 23 ) o f th e work o f Ja m es an d

.

Clarke V o n Z a ch h i m sel f m ad e a very careful d eter m i n atio n

.

i 1 8 1 0 a f t e r t h e m eth o d u s e d by Bouguer o f th e attractio n

n , ,

o f m ou n t Mi m e t n ear M a rseilles
, H e fou n d a d eflectio n o f
.

th e pl u m b li n e a m ou n ti n g to
-
He di d n o t calcul ate th e
d e n si ty o f th e earth His Observatio n s were p ublish ed in book
.

for m in 1 8 14
For th is work Mask e ly n e was prese n te d by th e R oyal Society
wi t h th e Co pl e y m edal At th e prese n tatio n th e Presi de n t Sir
.
,

Jo h n Pri n gle deli vered an address ( 3 5 ) o n th e a t trac tio n of

,

gravitatio n givi n g a criti c al accou n t of th e s tate of th e su bj ect

,

before th e ti m e o f N ewto n as we ll as o f i ts later develop m e n ts

, .

56
 E XP E R I M E NT S TO D E T E R M I N E TH E
D E N S I T Y OF TH E E AR TH

H E N R Y C AV E ND I SH ,
E sq , FRS
. . . A ND A S. .

Rea d Ju n e 21 , 1 798

om
“
c
the Ph ilosop h i al c
Tr a n sa tio n s of the R oya l So ie ty c f
o Lo n do n f or the
y ea r 17 9 8
,
P a r t II pp
. 4
, 6 9—
526 )
.

57
 CO NTE NTS

D escr ip tion f
o th e ap p a r a tus

M eth od of obser vi n g th e defle tio n c

ti me f
o vibr a tio n

Effect of th e r es is ta n e o c f th e a ir

Tes ti n g f o r m ag n eti ej e ts c ’

c
Tes tin g the ela stic p r op er ties f
o th e wir e

Fa 7 l h e7 tes ts f o7 m ag n e tic
fiects e ”

Tes ti ng the efiect of va 7ia tion of temp e7a tu r e a bo u t the b xo

Fin a l obser va tion s

O n th e theor y f
o th e exp er i m e n t

Cor r ectio n s to be m a de i n th e theor y as fi r st g iven

the va r ia bl e p os i tio n o f th e a r m on th e e q u a tio n s
E fiec t f
‘

Wh en an d h ow to a p p ly th e c or r e cti on s

Ap p e n dix to fi nd the a ttr a c ti o n of the m a h og a n y ca se o n th e ba lls

58
 E XP E R I M E NT S TO D E T E R M I N E TH E
D E N S I TY OF TH E E ART H

H E N R Y C A V E N D I SH ,
E sq , FR S
. . . AND A S
. .

M A NY years ago th e late Re v Joh n Mich ell of th is soci e ty

, .
, ,

co n trived a m e th od of deter m i n i n g th e d e n si ty of th e e arth by ,

r e n deri n g se n sibl e t h e attracti o of s m ll qua ti ties o f m at ter

n a n

but as h e was e n gaged in oth er p u rsui ts h e did n o t co m pl t e

, , e

t h e appara tus till a sh ort ti m e befor e h i s death a n d d i d ot ,

n

l iv e to m ake an y e x peri m e n t s with i t A f ter h is d e ath t h e .

,

a pparatus ca m e to th e R e v Fra n cis Joh n Hyd e Woll a sto n

.
,

Jackso n i an Professor at Ca m bridge wh o n o t h avi n g c o v e n , , n

ie n c e s f o r m aki n g e x peri m e n ts wi th i t in th e m a n n er h e coul d ,

w ish was so good a s to giv e i t to m e

. .

T h e app a r a tu s is very si m pl e i t co n sists o f a woode n ar m 6 ,

f e t lo n g m ade so as t o u n i te great stre n gth wi th li ttl e weigh t

e , .

This ar m is suspe n d e d in an h orizo n tal posi tio n by a sle n d r ,

e

w i re 40 i n ch es l o n g an d to e ach e x tre m i ty i s h u n g a le a d e n
,

ball abou t 2 i n ch es in di am e ter an d t h e wh ole i s i n closed in

,

a n arrow w oode n case to d e f e n d i t fro m th e wi n d

, .

As n o m ore forc e i s req u ired to m a ke th is ar m t u r n rou n d o n

i ts ce n tre th a n wh a t i s n ecessary to twist th e s uspe n di g wi r
, n e,

i t is plai n th at if t h e wire i s suffi ci e n tly sl e n d e r t h e m ost m i

, ,
n

u te f orc e s u ch as th e a ttr a c t io n of a l e a d e n w eigh t a f e w i n ch es

,

in d ia m et e r will b e su fficie n t to d r a w th e a r m s e n sibly a sid e

, .

Th e weigh ts Wh ich Mr Mi ch ell i n te n ded to u se were 8 i n ch e s

.

dia m eter O n e of th es e was t o be place d o n o sid e th e case

. ne ,

opposi te to o e o f th e balls a n d a s ear i t as cou l d co n ve n i e n tl y

n , n

be d o n e an d t h e oth er o n t h e oth e side opposi te to th e oth er

, r ,

59
 MEMO IRS O N

ball s o th at t h e attracti o n o f bot h th ese weigh ts woul d c o n

,

s pire in d rawi n g th e ar m asid e a n d wh e n i ts posi tio n as af , , ,

f e c te d by t h ese weigh ts was ascertai n ed th e w eigh ts were to , ,

be re m oved to th e oth er sid e of t h e case so as to d raw th e ar m ,

t h e co n trary way an d t h e posi tio n o f th e a r m was to be agai n

,

deter m i n ed ; a n d co n sequ e n tly hal f th e difl e r e n c e o f th ese p o

, ,

s ition s wou ld sh e w h o w m u c h th e a r m was draw n aside by th e

attracti o n o f th e weigh ts .

3: In orde r to deter m i n e fro m h e n ce t h e de n si ty o f th e eart h -

i t is np p e s sary to ascer tai n w h at force i s r e qui r e d to d raw th e

fi

a r m asid e t h rough a give n sp a ce T h i s Mr Mich ell i n te n d ed to . .

d o by p u tti n g th e ar m in m otio n a n d observi n g th e ti m e o f i ts

, ,

vibra ti o n s fro m wh ich it m ay easi ly be co m p u ted

, .
*

Mr Mich el l h ad prepared two wood e n sta n ds 0 11 w h ich th e

.
,

leade n w e igh ts were to be su pported a n d p ush ed for wards ti l l , ,

th ey ca m e al m ost in co n tac t wit h t h e case ; bu t h e see m s to

h ave i n te n d e d to m ove the m by h a n d .

As
\
w e 1 h ts i s e x cessi vely m i n u te n o t m o 1 e th a n of ,

th ei weigh t it i s pl ai n tha t a very m i n u te d istu rbi n g f o 1 ce

r , ,

will be su ffi ci e n t to destroy th e su ccess of th e e x p e 1 im e n t ; an d ,

f ro m t he f oll owi n g e x p e ri m e n ts i t wi ll appear th at th e d is tu rb ,

in g force m ost d i ffic ul t to g u a 1 d agai n st i s th at arisi n g fro m ,

th e varia t io n s o f h e at an d col d for i f o n e sid e o f th e case i s , ,

war m e r th a n th e other th e ai r in co n tact w 1 th 1 t w1 ll be rare , _

, _

fie d an d in co n seque n ce will asce nd ,wh il e th at o n th e oth e r

, , ,

sid e will desce n d an d prod u ce a c u rre n t wh i ch will d ra w th e

,

ar m se n si bly aside ]

M C l mb h r i
. i ty f c
ou o d t i
as , f th i k i d
n a v ar e o a se s , u s e a c o n r v an c e o s n

f or t yi g m l l tt
r ti
n b t M
s a M i h ll i f m d m
a r ac f h i i t ti
ons u r . c e n or e e o s n en on

O f m k i g th ia p im tn d f t h
s ex m t h d h i t
er d d t enb f,
an o e e o e n en e o u se , e o re

f M r C o u l o m b s e x p e r im e n ts
’
th e p u b l ic a t io n o f an y o . .

f M C ass in i i n o b s e r v in g th e v a r ia t io n
.
,
o m p a s s p l ac e b y h im i n t h e c d
o b s e r v ato r y ( w h ic h w as c
o n s t r u c te d s o as t o m a k e v e r y m in u te c h an g e s o f

p o s it io n v i s i bl e a n d in w h i h t h
, e n e e l e w as s u s p e n e c
b y a s ilk t h r e a ) d dd d ,

f o u n d t h a t s tan d in g n e ar t h e b o x in o r e r t o o b se r v e d r e w t h e n e e le , d , d
se n s ibl y as i e w hi h d c I
h a v e n o d o u b t w as c a u se by th is c u r re n t o f a ir d
It m u s t b e o b se r v e d t h a t h is
,
c
b o x w a s o f m e tal w h i h t r an s m its
om p as s
-

, c
h e a t f a s te r t h a n w o o an d al s o w as m a n y in h e sd ,
ee p bo th w h ic h a u se s c d c
s er v e d
t o in c re ase th e u r r e n t o f a ir c
T o im in is h t h e e ff e t o f t h is c u r . d c
d
r e n t it is b y all m e a n s a v is abl e t o m ak e t h e b o x in w h i h t h e n e e l e
, , c d
l
p y a s n o t m uc
, h e e p e r t h a n is n e e s sdar y to p r e v e n t t h e n e e l e f ro m s tr ik c d
in g ag a in s t t h e to p an d b o t to m .

60
 TH E LA ws O F G RAV I TAT I ON
As I was co n vi n ced o f th e n e cessity o f guard i n g agai n st th is
sou rce o f error I r e solved to pl a ce th e apparatu s in a roo m
,

wh ich shoul d re m ai n co n sta n tly s h u t an d to observe th e m o ,

ti o n o f th e a r m f ro m wi th ou t by m ea n s of a telescope a n d t o ,

suspe n d th e leade n weights in s uch m a n n er that I cou l d m ove ,

th m w ith ou t e n teri n g i n to th e roo m Th is di ff ere n ce in th e

e .

m a n n e r of observi n g r e n dered i t n ecess a ry to m ake so m e al ,

te r a tio n in Mr Mi chel l s apparatu s ; an d a s th e re were so m e

’
.
,

p a rts of i t wh ich I t h ough t n o t so co n ve n ie n t as co uld be

wish ed I ch ose to m ak e th e gr e atest part o f i t a f resh
, .

Fig 1 i s a lo n gi tu di n al v e rtical s e ctio n t h rough th e in s t r u

.

m e n t an d th e b u ildi n g in wh i ch it is pl c e d
,
A BC D D C B a .

A E FFE is th e c a se x a n d x a r e th e two b al ls whi ch ar e s us ,

pe n d ed by th e wi res hx f ro m th e a r m gh m h wh ich 1 8 i tsel f ,

s uspe n d ed by th e l e d er w ire g l Th is a r m co n sists Of a s n .

sle n de r d e al rod h mh stre g th e d by a sil ver wi re hgh ; by ,

n en

wh ich m e a n s i t i s m ade stro n g e n ough to support th e balls

,
’

th ough v e ry ligh t .
*

Th e c ase is su pported an d se t h orizo n tal by fou r screws , , ,

resti n g o n posts fi x ed firm ly i n to t h e grou d ; t w o of th e m ar e n

r e prese n t ed in th e figu re by S an d S ; th e two oth ers are n o t ,

represe n ted to avoi d co n f u si o n C G an d G G are th e e n d

,
.

walls o f th e b uildi n g W an d W a r e t h e l a de n weigh ts ; . e

w h i c h are suspe n d e d by th e copper r ds R r Pr R an d the o ,

woode n bar r r fro m th e c e n tre p in Pp Th is p in passes

,
.

th rough a h ol e in th e bea m H H perp e n dic ularly over the c e n ,

tre of th e i n stru m e n t an d tu r n s rou n d in i t bei n g p reve n ted , ,

fro m falli n g by th e plate p M M i s a p ulley f a ste n e d to th is .

,

p in ; an d M m a cord w ou n d ro u n d t h e p ulley
, a n d passi g ,
n

throug h t h e e n d w all ; by wh i ch th e observ e r m ay tu r n i t

rou n d an d th ereby m ove the weigh ts fro m o n e situatio n to th e
,

oth e r .

Fig 2 is a p l a n o f t h e i n stru m e n t A A A A is th e case SSSS

. . .
,

the f ou r scre ws for s upporti g i t hh th e a r m an d ball s W n .

,
.

a n d W t h e weigh ts
, M M th e p u l ley for m ovi n g t h e m Wh e n
.
, .

*
M r M ic h e l l
.
’
s rod w as e n t ir e l y o f w oo d ,
an d w as m u h c s t ro n g e r a n d

s t iff e r th a n t h is m u h h e a v ie r ; b u t, a s it h ad w ar p e d w h e n it
, th o u g h not c
c a m e to m e I c
h o s e to m a ke a n o th e r a n d p r e f e r r e
,
th is f o r m p a r tly as ,
d ,

i c c
be in g e as e r t o o n s t r u t a n d m e e t in g w ith l e s s r e s is ta n c e f r o m t h e a ir ,

a n d p ar tl y b e c au se f r o m its b e in
g o f a l e
, s s c o m p l ic a te f orm c o u l m o r e d ,
I d
c
e as ily o m p u t e h o w m u h it w as a t t r ac t e c
b y t h e w e ig h ts d .

61
MEMO IRS O N
 T HE L A WS (
O F G R A V I TAT I O N

th e weigh ts are in th is positi o n both co n s pire in d rawi n g th e ,

a r m in th e directi o n h W; b ut wh e th ey are re m oved to th e

, n .

si tuatio n w a d w r e prese n ted by th e dot t e d l in e s both c o n

n , ,

spire in drawi n g the ar m in th e co n trary di rectio n h w These .

w e igh ts a r e pr e ve n ted f ro m striki g th e i n s t ru m e n t b y pi e ces

n ,

o f wood w hi ch stop th e m as soo n as t h ey co m e wi th i n 15 o f an

,

i n ch o f t h e case The pieces o f wood are f aste n ed to th e wall

.

of th e b uil di n g ; an d I fin d th at th e weigh ts m ay strike agai n st

,

th e m w i th co n siderabl e f orc e with ou t se n sibly sh aki n g the in

,

stru m e n t
In order to deter m i n e th e si tuati o n o f th e ar m slips o f i vory ,

a e placed with i n th e case

r as n ear to each e n d o f th e ar m as
,

c an be d o n e with ou t da n g e r of tou chi n g i t a n d are d iv ided t o ,

20 th s o f an i n ch A n oth er s m all slip o f ivory i s placed at each

.

n d o f th e a r m servi n g as a ver n i er an d subd ivi di n g th ese

, ,

d ivisio n s i n to 5 parts ; so that th e positi o n o f th e ar m m ay be

obs e rv e d wi th ease to 1 00 th s o f an i n ch an d m ay be esti m ated ,

to less Th es e divisio n s are vie wed by m ea n s o f th e sh ort

.
,

telescopes T an d T ( Fig th rough sli ts cu t in th e e n d of th e

.

c a s e an d stopped with glass ; th ey are e n ligh te n ed by th e la m ps

,

L an d L wit h co n ve x glasses plac e d so as to th ro w th e l igh t

, ,

0 11 t h e divisio n s ; n o other ligh t bei n g ad m i tted i n to t h e roo m .

The di vi sio n s on th e slips o f ivory r u n in th e directio n Ww

( Fig . so th at wh e n th e weigh
, ts are placed i n th e positio ns

w an d w represe n ted by th e dotte d circles th e a r m is d raw n

, ,

aside in su ch d irecti o n as to m ak e th e i n de x poi n t to a h igh er

,

n u m be r o n th e slips o f i vory ; for wh ich reaso n I call this th e ,

positiv e posi tio n o f th e w eigh ts .

FK ( Fig 1 ) is a w o o de n r o d wh ich by m e an s o f a n e n dl ess

‘

.
, ,

screw tur n s rou n d th e s upport to wh ich th e w ire g l i s faste n ed

, ,

63
 ME MO IRS O N

an d th ereby e n ables th e observer t o tu r n rou n d th e wire til l ,

th e ar m settles in t h e m id dl e o f t h e case wi th ou t dan ger o f ,

to uch i n g eith er si de Th e wi re g l i s f aste n e d to i ts support at

.

top an d to th e ce n tre o f th e a r m at b otto m by brass clips in

, , ,

w hi ch i t i s pi n ch ed by screws .

In th ese two figu res th e di ff ere n t parts are d raw n n earl y

,

th e prop e r proportio n to each oth er an d o n a scal e o f on e t o ,

th irtee n .

B e f or e I proceed to th e a ccou n t o f th e e x peri m e n ts i t will ,

be proper to say so m eth i n g o f th e m a n n er o f observi n g Su p .

pose t h e ar m to be at rest an d its posi tio n to be observed l et

, ,

th e weigh ts be th e n m oved th e a m will n o t o n ly be draw n

,
r

asi d e th ereby b u t i t will be m ade to vibrate a n d i ts vibrati o n s

, ,

wil l co n ti n u e a great wh i l e so that in order to d eter m i n e h ow ,

m u ch th e ar m i s d raw n a sid e i t is n ecessary to observe th e e x

,

tre m e poi n ts o f th e vi bratio n s an d f ro m th e n ce to deter m i n e

,

t h e poi t wh i ch i t wo u l d rest at if its m otio n was destroyed o r

n .

th e poi t o f rest as I shall call i t To do th is I obs e rve th r e e

n ,
.
,

su ccessi ve e x tre m e poi n ts of a vi bratio n an d tak e t h e m ean ,

betwee n th e first an d th ird o f th e se poi n ts as t h e x tre m e ,

e

poi n t o f vi brati o n in o n e di recti o n an d th e n assu m e th e m ea n ,

betwee n th is a n d th e seco n d e x t re m e as th e poi n t o f rest ; f o r , ,

as th e vibrati o n s are co n ti n ually di m i n ish i n g i t is e vi d e n t th at , ,

t h e m ea n betwee n two e x tre m e poi n ts will n o t gi ve th e tru e

poi n t o f rest .

It m ay be th o u gh t m ore e x act to observe m a n y e x tre m e ,

poi n ts o f vibratio n so as to fin d th e poi n t of rest by differe n t

,

sets o f th re e e x tre m es an d to take th e m ea n resul t ; bu t i t

,

m u st be Observed th at n otwith sta n d i n g th e pai n s take n t o pre

,

ve n t an y d ist u rbi n g force th e ar m will seld o m re m ai n perfect

,

l y a t rest for an h ou r t ogeth e r ; for wh ich reaso n it is best to ,

d e t e r m i n e th e poi n t of rest f ro m obs e rv a tio n s m ade as soo n

,

a f ter th e m o ti o n o f th e w eigh ts as possible .

T h e n e x t th i n g to b e d et e r m i e d i s th e ti m e o f vibrati o n n ,

whi c h I fin d in thi s m a e r :I Obs e rve th e t wo e x tr e m e poi n ts

nn

of a v ib r a t i n a n d al so t h e ti m es a t wh i ch t h e a r m a rrives a t two
o ,

give n d i visi o n s betwee n th es e e x tre m es tak in g car e as w e ll as I , ,

c an gu ess th at th e s e divisi o n s sh all be n difi e r e n t sides o f th e '

,
o

m iddle poi n t a d n o t ve r y far fro m i t

,
n I th e n co m pu te th e .

m id dle poi n t of th e vibr a ti o n an d by proporti o n fin d t h e ti m e

, , ,

at wh ich th e ar m co m e s to t h is m id dl e poi n t I the n after a .

,

64
 THE L A WS O F G R AV IT A T I O N

n u m ber vibratio s repeat th is operatio n an d divide t h e in

of n , ,

t e r v al o f ti m e betwee n th e co m i n g o f th e ar m to th ese tw o
,

m iddle poi n ts by th e n u m ber of vibrati o n s wh i ch gi ves t h e

, ,

ti m e o f o n e vibratio n Th e foll owi n g e x a m pl e will e x plai n .

what i s h ere sai d m ore clearly

Du i s 1o n s T1m e
T im e of dd
mi le
o f v ib r at ion

'
h
l0 23 23

11 5 22

Th e first col u m n co n t ai n s th e e x tre m e poi n ts of th e vibra

ti o n s Th e seco n d th e i n ter m edia t e di vi si o n s Th e th ird
.
, .
,

th e ti m e at wh ich th e ar m ca m e to th ese divisi o n s ; a n d th e

fo urth th e poi n t o f rest wh i ch i s th u s fou n d :th e m ea n be
, ,

twee n t h e first an d third e x tre m e poi n ts i s a n d th e m ea n

betwee n th is an d th e seco n d e x tre m e poi n t i s w hi ch i s

th e poi n t o f rest as fo u n d by th e th ree first e x tre m es In li ke
, .

man n er th e poi n t of rest f ou n d by th e seco n d th ird an d

, , ,

f ou rth e x tre m es i s an d so o n Th e fi f th col u m n i s th e

,
.

ti m e at wh ic h t h e ar m ca m e to t h e m iddle poi n t o f th e vibra

ti o n wh ich is th u s fo u n d :t h e m ea n betwee n
,
an d is
an d i s th e m id dle poi n t o f th e fi rst vibrati o n an d as ,

t h e ar m ca m e to 25 at 1 0 2 3 an d to 24 at 1 0 23 we 1] ’ h

fin d by proporti o n t h at i t ca m e to at 1 0 23 23 h '
, , In
like m a n n er th e ar m ca m e to th e m id dl e o f th e seve n th vibra
,

tio n at 1 1 5 an d t h erefore s ix vibratio n s were perfor m ed

'
1]
, ,

in 4 1 5 9
'
or o n e vibratio n in 7 0
.
' ”

To j udge o f th e propriety o f th is m eth od w e m u st co n sider ,

in wh a t m a n n er th e vibrati o n i s affected by th e resista n ce o f th e

ai r an d by t h e m oti o n o f th e poi n t o f rest .

L et the ar m d u ri n g t h e first vibrati o n m ove fro m D to B

, ,

( Fig . an d d u ri n g th e seco n d fro m B to d ; B d bei n g l ess

, ,

th a n DB o n accou n t o f th e resis ta n ce Bisect D B in M an d

,
.
,

65
 ME MO IRS O N

B d in 777, bisect M m in n an d let x be an y poi n t in th e

an d ,

vibratio n ; t h e n if th e resistan ce is proportio n al to t h e squ are

,

of the velocity th e wh ol e ti m e o f a vibratio n is very l ittle al

,

ter e d b u t if T i s take n t o th e ti m e o f o n e vibrati o n as th e

, ,

dia m eter of a c ircle to its se m i ci rcu m fere n ce th e ti m e o f -

T < Dd
m ovi n g fro m B t o n e x ceeds } a V 1b r at 1o n by
SBn
n early ; 7
,

an d t h eti m e of m ovi n g fro m B to m f al l s s h or t o f 4 a vibrati o n ,

u m

by as m u c h ; an d t h e ti m e of m ovi n g fro m B t o x , in t h e sec

o n d vi bra t i x ceeds th at o f m ovi n g fro m x to B
on ,
e , in th e fi rst ,

if a m ea n i s take n betwee n th e ti m e o f th e first arrival of

,

th e ar m at x an d i ts retu r n i n g back t o th e sa m e poi n t th i s ,

m ea n w ill be earlier th a n th e tru e ti m e o f its co m i n g to B by

*
.
,

VB} y
2
8Bn . xx
Th e eff e ct o f m otio n in th e poi n t of rest is t h at w h e n t h e ,

ar m i s m ovi n g in t h e sa m e directio n as th e poi n t o f rest th e ,

t i m e of m ovi n g fro m o n e e x tre m e poi n t o f vibrati o n to t h e

oth er is i n creased an d i t i s di m i n i sh ed w h e n th ey are m ovi n g
,

i co n trary di rectio n s ; b u t if th e poi n t o f rest m oves u n i

n ,

for m ly th e ti m e o f m o v i n g fro m o n e e x tre m e to th e m id dle

,

poi n t o f t h e vi brati o n wil l be equal to th at o f m ovi n g fro m

,

th e m i ddl e poi n t to th e ot h er e x tre m e an d m oreover th e ti m e , , ,

o f t wo su ccessi ve vibratio n s will be very li ttle al tered ; an d ,

th erefore th e ti m e o f m ovi n g fro m th e m i ddl e poi n t o f o n e

,

vibrati o n to th e m i d dle poi n t of th e n e x t wil l also be very ,

li ttle altered .

[ Th is wo r d s hou ld be la ter ,
as is by Todh u n ter ( 140 vol 2 p
obser ved , .
, .

165) For a n e lem e n ta r y dis c u ss ion of th i s ki n d o

f mo ti on see i l l i a m so W
n and

Ta r leto n s
’
Tr ea tise of D yn a m i s c e x 13 . 1 17 ,
Poisson ( 6 5 vol 1 pp
.
,
.
, .

3 53— 3 6 1) a n d M e n a br ea (71 ) h a ve g i ven ver y ela bor a te a n a lyses of the p r oblem .

Cor n u a n d B a il le ( 13 7 1 41 1 42 1 43 a n d 1 57) p r oved in 1 878 tha t th e r e

, , , ,

s ista n ce in the c
a se u n der c
o n si der a tio n i s p r op or tion a l to the r s t p ower of fi
the ve loci ty ]
66
 TH E LA WS O F GRAVITATIO N

It appear s th ere f ore th at o n acco u n t o f th e resista n ce of

, ,

th e ai r th e ti m e at wh ich th e ar m co m es to th e m id dl e poi n t
,

o f th e vibratio n is n o t e x actly th e m ea n betwee n th e ti m es of

,

it s co m i n g to the e x tre m e poi n ts wh ich cau ses so m e in ac c u r ,

acy in m y m eth od o f fi n di n g t h e ti m e o f a vibr a tio n It m ust .

be observed h owever th at as th e ti m e o f co m i n g to th e m iddle

, ,

poi n t is be f ore th e m i dd le o f th e vibratio n both in th e firs t ,

a n d last vibratio n a n d in ge n eral i s n early equally so th e error

, ,

prod uced fro m t h is cause m u st be i n co n siderable ; an d on th e ,

wh ol e I see n o m eth od of fi n di n g th e ti m e o f a vibratio n wh ich

,

is liable to less obj ectio n .

Th e ti m e o f a vibratio n m ay be deter m i n ed either by previou s ,

trials or i t m ay be do n e at eac h e x peri m e n t by ascertai n i n g th e

, ,

ti m e o f th e vibratio n s w hich th e ar m is actually pu t i n to by

th e m otio n o f th e weigh ts ; bu t th ere is o n e a dva n tage in th e
latter m e th od n am ely t hat if th ere sh oul d be an y acci de n tal
, ,

attracti o n s uch as electrici ty in t h e glass plates th rough Wh ich

, ,

th e m otio n o f th e ar m is see n w h ich sh ou l d i n crease th e f orce ,

n ecessary to dr a w th e a r m asi de i t w oul d also di m i n ish th e ,

ti m e of vibratio n ; an d co n seque n tl y th e error in th e resul t

, ,

w oul d be m u ch less wh e n th e force required to draw th e ar m

,

aside was ded uced fro m e x p e ri m e n ts m ade at the ti m e t ha n ,

w h e n i t was take n fro m previo u s e x peri m e n ts .

A CC O U N T O F TH E E X PE R I ME NTS

In m y first e x peri m e n ts t h e wi re by w h i c h t h e ar m was su s

,

pe n d e d was 3 9} i n ch es l o n g an d was o f copper si lvered o n e , ,

foot o f w hic h weigh e d 2143 grai n s ; its sti ff n ess was su ch as to

m ake th e a r m per f or m a vibrati o n in abou t 1 5 m i n utes I im .

m ediately f ou n d i n deed th at it was n o t stifl e n oug h as th e

, , ,

attracti o n o f th e we igh ts d rew th e balls so m u ch asi de as to ,

m ake th e m tou ch th e sides o f th e case ; I h owever c h ose to , ,

m ake so m e e x peri m e n ts wit h i t before I ch a n ge d i t , .

In th i s trial th e rods by wh ich th e l eade n w eigh ts were su s

,

pe n ded were o i i ro n ; for as I h ad take n care th at th ere sh oul d,

be n o th i n g m ag n eti cal in th e ar m it see m e d o f n o sig n ificatio n ,

w h eth e r th e rod s w e re m ag n etical o r n o t ; b u t f o r greater se ,

c u r ity I took o ff th e lead e n weigh ts an d tried wh at e ffect t h e

, ,

rods wo ul d h ave by th e m sel v e s N O W I fin d by co m pu tatio n .

, ,

th at th e attracti o n o f gravi ty o f th ese rods o n th e b a lls is to ,

67
 ME MO IRS O N

th at o f t h e weig h ts n early as 1 7 to 2500 ; so th a t as the a t

, ,

tractio n o f th e w eigh ts appeared by th e f oregoi n g trial to be , ,

sufficie n t to draw th e ar m asi d e by a bo u t 1 5 divisio n s th e a t ,

tractio n o i th e rod s al o n e sh oul d d r a w i t aside bo u t fi c f a a

d ivisio n a n d th erefore th e m oti o n o f th e rods fro m o n e n ear

, ,

positi o n to t h e oth er sh o ul d m ove i t abou t o f a di v isi o n

,
.

Th e resu l t o f th e e x peri m e n t was that for th e first 1 5 m in ,

utes a f ter t h e rods were re m oved fro m o n e n ear posi t io n to t h e

oth er v ery l ittle m otio n was p rod uced in th e ar m an d hardly
, ,

m ore tha n ough t to be prod u ced by t h e actio n o f gravi ty but

th e m otio n t h e n i n creased so th at in abo u t a quarter or h alf
, ,

a n h ou r m ore i t was fo un d to h ave m oved } o r If divisio n in

, 1 ,

th e sa m e d irectio n that i t o ugh t to h ave d o n e by th e actio n o f

gravi ty O n retu r n i n g th e i ro n s b a c k to th eir for m er positi o n
.
,

the a r m m oved backward in t h e sa m e m a n n er th at i t before

,

m ove d forward .

It m ust be observed that t h e m otio n Of th e ar m in th ese e x

, ,

e r im e n t s w as hardly m ore th a n woul d so m eti m es take place

p ,

wi th o u t an y appare n t cau se ; b u t yet as in th re e e x peri m e n ts ,

w h ich were m ade wi t h th ese rods th e m otio n was co n sta n tly o f ,

th e sa m e ki n d th oug h di fferi n g in qua n ti ty fro m } to 1 } d ivis

, 7 1

io n th ere see m s great reaso n to th i n k t h at it was prod u ce d by

,

t h e rods .

As th i s e ffect see m e d to m e to be ow i n g t o m agn etis m th ough ,

i t was n o t su ch as I s h oul d h ave e x pected fro m that ca use I ,

c h a n ged th e iro n rods f or copper a n d trie d the m as be f ore ; ,

th e resul t was th at th ere stil l see m ed to be so m e e ffect o f th e

,

sa m e ki n d b u t m ore irreg ular so that I attrib u t ed i t to so m e

, ,

accide n tal cau se an d th erefore h u n g o n t h e leade n w eigh ts an d

, ,

proceeded wi t h th e e x peri m e n ts .

I t m ust be Observed that th e effect wh ic h see m ed to be pro

,

d u c e d by m ovi n g th e iro n rods fro m o n e n ear posi ti o n t o th e

oth er was at a m e di u m n o t m ore th a n o n e divisio n ; w hereas
, , ,

th e e ff ect prod uced by m ovi n g th e weigh t fro m th e m i dway to

th e n ear positio n was abo ut 1 5 divisio n s s o th at if I h ad c o n
, ,

ti n n ed to u se th e i ro n rods th e error in th e result caused th ere

,

by coul d h ardl y h a v e e x ceede d 31 o f th e w h ole

, 5
.

68
 TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TATIO N

E X PE RI ME NT I . AUG 5 .

Weigh ts i n m idwa y p osi tion

Po of
T ime ggt
o ‘

D1 fl ere n c e
1
h
42
'
9 0
55 0
10 5 0
A t 10b
weigh ts m oved to p osi tive p osi tion

A 11
t h
weigh ts r etu r n ed back to m idway p osi tion

h '

0 1 13
'

1 4 56

16 9
1 4 36

30 45
1 5 13

45 58

M o tio n on d
m o v in g f r o m m i w ay to p o s .

p o s t o m i w ay
. d
T im e 1 4 55
’
o f o n e v ib r a t io n

It m ust
be observed that in th is e x peri m e n t th e attractio n
, ,

of th e weigh ts d re w th e ar m fro m to so th at if n o ,

co n triva n ce h ad bee n u s e d to preve n t i t th e m o m e n tu m ao ,

qu ired th ereb y would have carried i t to n e ar 40 an d would

.
, ,

th erefore h ave m ad e th e ball s to strike agai n st th e case To

, .

preve t thi s after t h e a r m h ad m oved n e r 1 5 d ivisi o n s I r e

n , a ,

tu r n ed th e w eigh ts to th e m i d w ay positio n an d l et th e m r e ,

m ai n th ere till th e ar m ca m e n early to th e e x te n t o f its vibra

,

ti o n an d the n agai n m oved th e m to th e posi ti ve positi o n

,
-

wh er e by th e vibratio n s were so m u ch di m i n ish ed th at th e balls ,

d id n o t tou ch th e sides ; a d i t was thi s wh i ch preve n ted m y

n

Observ i n g th e first e x tre m ity o f th e vibr a tio A l ike m eth od n .

was used wh e n th e weigh ts w e re retu r ed to th e m i dway posi

,
n

tio n an d in th e two followi n g e x peri m e n ts

, .

69
 ME MO IRS O N

Th e vibratio n s in m ovi n g t h e weigh ts fro m th e m i d way to

,

th e posi tive positio n were so s m al l that i t was th ough t n o t

, ,

w orth w h ile t o observe th e ti m e of th e vibratio n Wh e n th e .

weigh ts w ere retu r n ed to th e m i d way posi ti o n I deter m i n ed ,

th e ti m e o f the ar m s co m i n g to t h e m i ddle poi n t o f eac h vibra

’

t i o n in ord e r to see h o w n early t h e ti m es o f th e differe n t

,

vibratio n s ag re ed toget h er In great part of th e followi n g e x

.
“

p e r i m e n ts I
, co n te n ted m yself wi th observi n g th e ti m e o f i ts

co m i n g to t h e m i d dle poi n t o f o n ly t h e first an d last vibrati o n .

E X P E R IM E N T II . AUG 6 .

Weigh ts in m idwa y p osi tio n

D 1v is io n s T im “m e of m id . of
D iff
e
V ib r a t ion
e r e nce

'
b
10 4 0
11 0
17 0
25 0 11 .

Weigh ts m oved to p os itive position

Weigh ts r et d to m idwa y p osition

ur ne

’
1h 4 1
’
14 52

1 8 53
1 4 46

33 39
13 46

47 25
1 5 25

2 2 50

M o t io n O f ar m o n m o v in g W e ig h ts f ro m m i w ay to p o s d . 1 5 87
p o s t o m i w ay . d
1 4 42
'

T im e of one v ib r a t io n

70
 THE L A WS O F G R A V I TATI O N

EX P E R IM E N T I II . AUG . 7

T h e weigh ts be i n g i n th e p os itive p os i tio n ,

and th e arm a l i ttle in m otion

T 1m e of m id of
Di v is io n s T1 m e
v ib ra t io n
.

D iff e r e n ce

Weigh ts moved to m idway p osition

34 5 5
’
h
10
'
14 44
49 3 9
14 3 8

1 4 47
19 4

33 31

Weigh ts moved t o
p osi tive p osi ti on

0 2 59

47 40

M o t io n o f the ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f ro m p o s t o m id : . .

m id to p o s : . .

T im e
'

o f o n e v ib r atio n , w h e n in m id p o s itio n
. 14 39
1 4 54
'

p o s p o sitio n
.

1 These e x p e r l m e n ts are sufficie n t to sh ew th at th e attractio n ,

o f th e weigh ts o n th e balls is very s e n sible a d are also s u f ,

n

fic ie n tl y regular to deter m i n e t h e qua n tity o f th is attractio n

pretty n early as th e e x t re m e res ults do n o t di ff er fro m each
,

o th er by m ore th a n 116 par t B u t there is a circu m stan ce in

.

th e m the reaso n of whi c h does n o t readily appear n a m el y

, , ,

t h at th e effect o f th e attractio n see m s to i n crease for h a lf a n ,

71
 MEMO IRS O N

h ou r o r an h our after th e m oti on of th e weigh ts ; as it m ay

, ,

be observed that in all th ree e x pe r i m e n ts th e m ean positio n

, ,

kept i n creasi n g for th at ti m e after m ovi n g th e wei g h ts to th e,

positi ve positi o n an d kept decreasi n g af t er m ovi n g the m ,

fro m th e positive t th e m id way posi t i o n

o .

Th e first cau se wh ich occu rred t o m e was th at possibly th ere ,

m igh t be a wa n t o f elasti city eith er in th e suspe n di n g wi re o r, ,

so m eth i n g i t was faste n ed to wh ich m igh t m ake i t yield m or e

,

t o a g i ve n pressu re a f ter a lo n g co n ti n ua n ce o f th at pressure

, ,

tha n i t d i d at first .

T o p u t t h is to th e trial I m oved th e i n de x so m u ch t hat th e

, ,

a r m if n o t preve n ted by th e si des o f th e case w o ul d h ave stood

, ,

a t abou t 5 0 di visi o n s ,so that as it co uld n o t m ove f a rth er th a n

,

t o 3 5 divi si o n s i t was kept in a positio n 1 5 divisio n s dista n t

,

fro m that wh ich i t would n atu rally h a ve assu m ed fro m th e

stiff n ess o f th e w i re or in othe r words th e wire was twisted
, ,

1 5 d ivisio n s After h avi n g re m ai n ed two o r th ree h ou rs in t his

.

positi o n th e i n de x was m oved back s o as to leave th e ar m at

, ,

libert y to assu m e i ts n atu ral positio n .

It m u st be observed that if a wi re i s twisted o n ly a l ittle

,

m ore th a n i ts elasti ci ty ad m i ts o f th e n i n stead o f setti n g as , , ,

i t i s calle d o r acquiri n g a per m a n e n t twi st all at o n ce i t sets

, ,

grad ually a n d w h e n it i s l eft at li berty i t grad ually loses part

, , ,

o f that set wh ich i t acq uire d ; so that i f in thi s e x peri m e n t , ,

t h e wire by havi n g bee n kep t tw is t e d f o r tw o o r th ree h ou rs

, ,

h ad grad ually yielded to th is pressu re o r h ad begu n t o set i t , ,

w ould grad ually restore i tsel f w he n left a t liberty an d th e , ,

poi n t of rest wou ld grad ually m ove back war ds ; bu t th ough ,

th e e x peri m e n t was t wice r e p eate d I co uld n o t perceive an y ,

su ch e fl e c t .

T h e ar m was n e x t suspe n d ed by a sti ff er w ire .

E X PE RI ME NT IV . AUG . 12

Weigh ts i n m idway p os ition

Di v is io n s T im e
Ti m e of m id . of
Dl fl e re n cc
V 1 b ra t i o n

72
 T ll E L A WS O F GR AV ITATIO N

Weigh ts m oved f r om m id wa y to p osi tive p osition

We ig h ts m oved to n eg a t i ve p os i tion

'

i oh 20 3 1

27 3 1

3 4 28

41 51

48 3 9

55 3 7

We igh ts meved to p ositive p osi tio n

11 1 0 40

1 7 43

24 44
24 3 2
31 49

3 8 48

45 54

M o t io n o f ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m m i w ay to p os d . 1
p os . to neg :
n eg . to p o s .

”
T im e
’
o f o n e v ibr a t io n in n eg .
p o s itio n 7 1
' "
pos .
p o s il io n 7 3

73
 ME MO IRS O N

E X PE R I M E NT V . AUG . 20
The weigh ts be i ng i n th e p ositive p osi tio n t h e a r m wa
,
s m a de to vibr a te , by
m oving th e i n dex:

Dm s io n s T1m e
Ti m e of m id . of
D iff nce
v ib ra t io n
e re

Weigh ts moved to n ega tive p osi tion

h
10
’
22 47
i
h
io 23 11
23 30

11 32 16
11 33 53
33 58
'
7 13
41 6

Weig h ts m oved to p ositive p osi tion

'

49 37

24 9 5 .

56 44

0 46 21

53 22

M o tio n o f ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m p os . to n eg :
n eg . to p o s .

T im e o f o n e v ib r at io n , w h e n w e ig h ts ar e in n eg .
p o s it ion 7 5
’ "

2 :7 5
"
p o s itio n
’
p os .

74
 THE LA WS O F G RAV ITATI O N

In th e fou rth e x peri m e n t th e effect of th e weigh ts see m ed ,

to i n crease o n s tan di n g in all three m otio n s o f th e weigh ts

, ,

co n for m ably to w h at was observed with th e for m e r wire ; bu t

in th e las t e x peri m e n t th e case was di ffere n t ; f o r th ough o n ,

m ovi n g th e weigh ts f ro m positi ve to n egative the eff e ct s e e m e d ,

to i n crease o n sta n d i n g yet o n m ovi n g th e m f ro m n egativ e to

, ,

p ositi ve i t
, di m i n ish ed .

My n e x t trials were to see w h eth er thi s e ffect was owi n g to

,

m ag n etis m N o w as i t happe n ed th e case in wh ich th e a r m

.
, ,

was in c l o s e d was pl c e d n a rly parallel to th e m ag n etic east

'

,
a e

an d west a n d th erefore i f th ere was a n yth i n g m ag n eti c in th e

, ,

b a ll s an d weigh ts th e balls wo uld acqu i re polari ty fro m th e

,

earth an d th e weigh ts also after h avi n g r e m ai n ed so m e ti m e , ,

eith er in th e posi tive o r n ega ti ve positio n wo ul d acqui re p o ,

l a r it y in th e s a m e di recti o n an d would a ttract th e balls ; b u t

, ,

wh e n th e weigh ts wer e m oved to th e co n tra ry posi ti o n th a t ,

pol e wh ich before poi n te d to t h e n orth w oul d poi n t to th e ,

sou th an d wo uld repel th e ball i t w a s appro a ch ed to b u t yet

, ,

as repelli n g o n e bal l to ward s th e sout h h as th e s am e e ff ect o n

th e a r m as a tt racti n g th e o t h e r t o ward s t h e n or th this woul d ,

h ave n o effect o n th e posi tio o f t h e a r m A f ter so m e ti m e n .

,

h owever th e poles of th e weigh t wou l d be revers e d an d w oul d

, ,

begi n t o attract th e b alls an d wou ld th erefore prod uce th e ,

sa m e ki n d o f e ffect as was actually observed .

T o try wh eth er this wa s t h e case I detached th e weig h ts ,

fro m th e upper p a rt o f t h e C opper rod s by wh ich th ey were

su spe n ded bu t still ret a i n ed t h e lo wer j oi n t n a m ely th a t
, , ,

w hi ch pass e d th rough the m ; I th e n fi x e d the m in th eir posi

tive positi o n in su ch m a n n er th at th ey co ul d t u r n rou n d o n
, ,

th i s j oi n t as a verti cal a xis I al so m ade an apparat us by

,
.

wh ich I coul d t ur n th e m h al f way rou n d o n th ese vertical a x es , ,

w ith ou t ope n i n g th e door o f th e roo m .

H avi n g s u ff ered th e apparatu s to re m ai n in th i s m a n n er f o r a

day 1 n e x t m or n i n g obs e rved t h e a m an d h avi n g fou n d i t to
,
r , ,

be statio n ary tu rn ed th e w eigh t s h alf way rou n d o n th ei r a x e s

, ,

bu t cou l d n o t perceive an y m oti o n in th e ar m Havi n g s uf .

f e r e d th e weigh ts to re m ai n in th is posi tio n f o r abou t a n h o u r ,

I tu r n ed th e m back i n to th ei r for m er positi o n bu t w i th ou t i ts ,

havi n g an y e ff ect on th e ar m This e x peri m e n t was repeated .

on t w o oth e r d ays wit h th e s a m e resu lt

,
.

We m ay be su re therefore th a t th e eff e ct in qu esti o n co uld

, ,

75
 ME MO I RS O N

n ot be prod u ced by m ag n etis m in th e weig h ts ; for if it was , .

tu r n i n g th e m half rou n d o n th eir axes w ou l d i m m ediately h ave ,

ch a n ged the ir m ag n eti c attractio n i n t o rep ulsio n an d h ave ,

pro d u ced a m otio in th e ar m n .

As a f u rth e r proof of th is I took o ff th e leade n weigh t s an d

, ,

in th ei r roo m place d t wo 1 0 i n ch m ag n ets ; th e app r a tu s for

-
a

t u r n i n g th e m rou n d bei n g left as i t was a n d th e m ag n ets bei n g ,

placed h orizo n tal an d poi n ti n g to th e balls an d with th ei r

,
‘

n orth poles t ur n e d to th e n orth ; b ut I co ul d n o t fi n d that

an
y al terati o n was pro d u ced in th e place of th e a r m by t ur n ,

in g th e m half rou n d ; wh i ch n o t o n ly co n fir m s th e d ed u ctio n

d raw n fro m th e f or m er e x peri m e n t b t also see m s to sh ew th a t ,
u ,

in th e e x peri m e n ts wi th th e i ro n rods th e effect produ ced cou l d ,

n o t be owi n g to m ag n eti s m .

Th e n e x t th i n g wh ich sug g ested i tself to m e was th a t p o s ,

s ibl y th e e fi e c t m igh t be owi n g to a difi e r e n c e o f te m pera

t ure b e twee n th e weigh ts an d th e case ; f o r i t i s evide n t ,

th at if th e weigh ts were m u c h war m er th a n th e case t h ey ,

w ou l d war m th at sid e wh ich was n e x t t o th e m an d prod u ce a ,

c u rre n t o f ai r wh ic h wou l d m ake th e bal ls a pproach n earer to

,

t h e weigh ts Th ough I th ough t i t n o t likely th a t th e re sh ould

.

be su fficie n t diff e re n ce b e twee n t h e heat o f the w eigh ts an d

,

case to h ave an y se n sible e ffect an d th o ugh i t see m e d im

, ,

probabl e that in all th e f oregoi n g e x peri m e n ts th e w eigh ts

, ,

sh oul d happe n to be war m er th an th e case I resolved to e x ,

a m i n e i n to i t an d for th is p urpose re m oved th e apparatu s u sed

,
-

in th e last e x peri m e n ts a n d supported th e weigh ts by th e cop

,
‘

per rods as before ; an d h avi n g placed th e m in th e m i dway

, ,

posi tio I p u t a la m p u n der each an d placed a th er m o m eter

n , ,

wi t h i ts hal l close to th e o utsid e of th e cas e n ear that part ,

w h ich o n e o f th e weigh ts approach ed to in i ts positive posi ti o n ,

an d in su ch m a n n er that I co u ld d isti n guish th e d ivisio n s by

th e telescope Havi n g d o n e th is I sh u t th e d oor an d so m e

.
, ,

ti m e after m oved th e weigh ts to th e posi ti v e posi ti o n At first .

,

th e ar m was d raw n asid e o n ly in i ts u s u al m an n er ; b u t in ,

h alf an h o u r th e e ff e ct w as so m u ch i n creas e d th at th e a r m
, ,

was d raw n 1 4 d ivisi o n s asi de i n stead o f abou t th ree as i t, ,

w oul d oth erwis e h ave b e e n an d th e th er m o m eter was raised

,

n ear n a m e ly fro m 6 1 to O n ope n i n g th e door

°
, ,

th e w e igh ts were f ou n d to be n o m ore h eated tha n j ust t o pre ,

ve n t t h e ir feeli n g cool to m y fi n gers .

76
 THE L A WS O F G R A V IT A T O N

As th e effect o f a di ff r e n c e of t e m pe ra tu re a pp e a r e d to be
e

so gr e a t I bor e d a s m al l h ole in o n e o f th e weigh ts abou t

, ,

th re e qu a rt e rs o f a i n c h de e p an d i s e rted th e b l l o f a s m all
-
n ,
n a

ther m o m e ter an d th e n cov e red u p th e ope n i n g w i th ce m e n t

, .

A n oth e r s m all ther m o m e t e r was plac e d wit h it s ball close to

th e c ase a d s n e a r t o th at part to wh ich t h e w eigh t w as
,
n a

appro a ch e d as co ul d b e d o n e wi th s f e ty ; th e th er m o m eters a

bei n g so pl a ced th a t wh e n t h e w e igh ts w e re in th e n egative

,

positio n both could be se e n th roug h o n e o f th e tel escopes by

, ,

m ea n s o f ligh t r e flected fro m a co n cave m irror .

EX P E R I M E NT VI . SE PT . 6

W ig h ts i n
e
m idwa y p os i tion

Th e r m o m e te r

Di i i
v s o ns T im e
1 1] a ir i
m w e gh t

'
11
9 43
10 3

Weigh ts m oved to n eg a ti ve p osi tio n

10 12
18
25

39
46
53
11 0
7
14

Weig h ts m oved to p osi tive p osi tion

23
30
37
44
51

M o tio n o f arm o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m m i w ay t o d
to z

77
 MEMO IRS O N

E X P E R I M E N T V IL . SE PT . 18

Weigh ts i n m idway p osi tio n

Th e r m o m e te r

Di i i
v s on s T im e
in a ir in w e igh t

'
h
8 30
9 32

Weigh ts m oved to nega tive p osition

40
47
54

E igh t ezvtr e me p o in ts m issed

10 58
11 5
12

Weigh ts m o ved to p osi tive p os ition

20
28 21 72.

35

Fo u r ex tr e me p oi n ts m issed
0 10
17
24

M o tio n ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m m i w ay to d
to

E X P E R IM E N T V I I I . SE PT . 23

Weigh ts in midway p ositio n

Th e r m o m e te r

Di v is io n s T im e
in a ir in w e ig h t

'
9 b
46 53 1 .

10 45

Weigh ts m oved to nega tive p osi tion

56
11 3
10

Fou r ex tr eme p oin ts m issed

44
51
58

78
 THE L A WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

Weigh ts moved to p osi tive p os ition

’
h
0 1
8
15

Two ex tr em e p oi n ts m issed
36
43
50

M o tio n o f ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m m i w ay to d
to

Inthese th ree e x peri m e n ts th e e ff ect of th e weigh t appeared

,

t o i n creas e fro m t wo to five te n th s o f a d ivisi o n o n sta n d i n g ,

a n h ou r an d th e th er m o m eters sh ewed th at th e weigh ts w e re ,

th ree or five t e n th s o f a degree war m er th a n th e ai r cl ose to t h e

c a se In t h e two l ast e x peri m e n ts I p u t a l am p i n t o th e roo m
.
, ,

ov e r n igh t in h opes o f m aki n g th e ai r wa r m er tha n th e weigh ts

, .

bu t withou t e ffect as th e h eat o f th e weights e x ceeded that of

,

t h e ai r m ore in th ese t wo e x peri m e ts t h a n in th e for m er n .

O n th e eve n i n g of O ct ob e r 1 7 th e weigh ts bei n g pl a ced in ,

t h e m id w a y positi o n l a m ps were p u t u n der th e m in ord er to

, ,

w ar m th e m th e d oor w as th e n sh u t an d th e la m ps suffered to ,

bu r n o u t Th e n e x t m or n i n g i t was fou n d o n m ovi n g th e

.
,

weigh ts t o th e n eg a tive positio n th at th ey w e re war m e r ,

tha n th e a ir n ear the case A f ter t h ey h ad co ti n ued an h ou r

. n

in tha t positio n th ey were fou n d to h ave cooled

, so as to
be o n ly 6 w a r m er tha n th e a ir They were th e n m oved to th e
°
.

positi ve positio n ; an d in bot h posi tio n s th e ar m was draw n

aside abo u t fou r d ivi sio n s m re after th e weigh ts h ad re m ai n ed
o ,

an h ou r in th at posi tio n th an i t was at first , .

May 22 1 798 Th e e x peri m e n t w a s repeated in th e sa m e

,
.

m a n n er e x cep t that th e la m ps were m a d e so as to bu r n o n ly a

,

sh ort ti m e an d o n l y two h ou rs w e re suffere d t o elapse before

,

t h e weigh ts were m oved Th e w e igh ts were n o w f ou n d to be

.

scarcely 2 war m er th a n th e case ; an d th e ar m was draw n

°

asid e abou t t wo divisio n s m ore af ter th e w e ights h ad re m ai n ed ,

a n h ou r i n th e posi tio n th e y were m oved to tha n i t was at first , .

O n M ay 23 th e e x peri m e n t wa s tried in t h e sa m e m a n n e r
, ,

e x cept th a t the weigh ts wer e cool ed by layi n g i ce o n th e m ; th e

ice bei n g co n fi n ed in i ts place by t in plates w h ich o n m ovi n g , ,

th e w eights f el l to th e grou n d so as n o t to be in th e way O n

, , .

m ovi n g the weigh ts t o th e n e g a ti ve posi tio n th ey were fou n d ,

79
 M E MO IRS O N

to be abou t 8 cold e r tha n t he ai r an d th ei r eff ect on th e ar m

°
,

see m ed n o w to di m i n i sh o n sta n di n g i n ste a d of i n creasi g as ,

n ,

it di d before as t h e a r m was d ra wn aside abo u t d ivisi o n s

less at th e e n d of a n h o u r after th e m otio n o f t h e weigh ts
, ,

th a n it was at first .

It see m s s u ffie ie n tl y proved t h erefore th at th e effect in qu es

, ,

tio n is prod uced as above e x plai n ed by t h e d iffere n ce o f t e m

, ,

e r a t u r e be twee n t h e weigh ts a d case ; f o r in th e 6 th 8 th an d

p n ,

9 th e x peri m e n ts in whi ch th e weigh ts were n o t m uch war m er

i<
,

tha n t h e case th ei r e ff ect i n creased bu t li ttle o n stan di n g ;

,

wh ereas i t i n crease d m u ch wh e n th ey were m uch war m er than

, ,

th e case an d d ecreased Iu n eh wh e n th ey wer e m u c h cooler

, , ;

I t m ust be observed th at in th is apparat u s th e b o x in wh ich

, ,

th e balls play is pretty deep an d th e balls h a n g n ear th e bot

,

t o m o f it wh ich m akes th e effect o f t h e cu rre n t o f a ir m ore

,

s e n si ble t h a n it wou l d oth erwis e be an d i s a defect wh ich I in ,

te n d to rec t ify in so m e fu tu re e x peri m e n ts .

E X P E R I M EN T IX . APRIL 29

Weig h ts in p osi ti ve p osi tio n

Di i i
v s on s T im T im e of m i dd l e of .

e
V ib ra ti on

Weigh ts m oved to n ega tive p osition

' "
11 b
18 43

25 40

O 7 26
.

M o t io n o f arm

T im e
'
o f v ib r a t io n 6 58

[ Th is is evide n tly a m isp r i n t f or 6 th 7th , ,

a nd 8th .
]
80
 TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TATI O N

EX P E R IM E NT X . MAY 5
Weig h ts i n p osi tive p ositio n
li m Tm
Ti m e of m i dd l e of
Di ff
s no n s 1 e
V ib ra tion
e re n c e

Weigh ts m oved to n ega tive p osi tion

43 36
'
b
10
'
7 0

50 36

11 25 24
7 3

32 27

27 21.
6 56

39 23

M o tio n of arm
'

Tim e o f v ibr a t io n
'

6 59

E X PE RI M E NT XI . MAY 6

Weigh ts in p ositive p ositio n

DIV ISIO DS Ti m T im e of mi dd le of
e
V ib r a t io n

Weig h ts m oved to n ega tive p osition

'

i
h
e 59 59 h
10 0 8
10 0 27
 ME MO I RS O N

"
10
'
b
49 8

56 13

M o t io n o f ar m
"
T im e
’
o f v ibr at io n 7 1

In th e th ree foregoi n g e x peri m e n ts th e i n de x was p u rposely,

m oved so th at before th e begi n n i n g of th e e x peri m e n t the

, ,

balls rested as n ear th e si des o f th e case as th ey c ould wi th ou t ,

da n g e r of tou ch i n g i t ; f o r it mu st be observed that wh e n th e ,

ar m is at 3 5 th ey begi n t o tou ch
, In th e two follo wi n g e x
.

e r im e n t s th e i n de x was in i ts u sual positio n

p , .

E X PE RI ME NT X II . MAY 9

Weig h ts ia n ega ti ve p osi tio n

Di i
v s io n s T im T im e of mi dd l e of
e
v ib ra t o n i
0
'
h
9 45
17 4 . 58 0
10 8 0
17 4 . 10 0

Weigh ts moved to p ositive p osi tio n

5
1 0 20
'
59

11 3 14

10 18

M o tio n o f ar m

Tim e o f v ib r a t io n
’
7 3

82
 THE L AW S O F G R A V I T AT I O N

EX P E R IM E N T X III . M A Y 25
Weigh ts i n n eg a tive p osi tion

Div is no n s T im e
Ti m e of mi dd le of
v ib r a t io n

Weig h ts moved to p osi tive p os ition

h
10
’
22 56

30 3

37 7

11 5 31

12 35

Weigh ts m oved to n ega ti ve p os i tion

37 39

44 45

0 20 24

27 30

M o tio n of th e ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m to
“ "
l to z

Tim e o f v ib ra t io n at
’
7 6
7 7
83
 ME MO IRS O N *

E X PE R I M E N T X IV . M A Y 26
‘

Weigh ts i n n ega ti ve p osi tio n

Dm s io n s Ti m Ti m e of mi dd le of
e
V ib r a t io n

’
h
9 18 0
24 0
46 0
49 0
Weigh ts m oved t o p os i tive p o si tion

10 0 46 I b '
10 1 1
1 16 f

43 32

50 41

Weig h ts moved ton eg a tive p osi tio n

11 8 25

15 27

50 58

M o tio n o f a rm b y m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m to
+ to — = 6 l3
.

T im e o f v ib r a tio n at
 THE LA WS O F ‘

G RA V I T A T I O N

In th e n e x t e x peri m e n t th e balls before th e m otio n o f th e

, ,

weigh ts were m ade to rest a s n ear as possi bl e t o th e sides of

,

th e case bu t o t h e co n trary side fro m what th ey di d in th e

,
n

9 th 1 0th a n d 1 1 t h e x p e ri m e n ts
, , .

EX P E R IM E NT XV . M A Y 27
Weig h ts in n eg a tive p os itio n

Di v is io n s Tm Ti m e of m i dd l e of
i e
V ib ra tion

Weigh ts m oved to p osi tive p ositio n

10 b ’
5 56

13 5

20 1 3

48 42

55 48

M o tio n of th e ar m
"
T im e o f v ib r a tio n
'
7 7

Th e two followi n g e x peri m e n ts w e re m ad e by Mr Gilpi n .

,

w h o was so good as to assist m e o n th e occasi o n .

E X PE R I M E NT X VI . M A Y 28
W ig h ts i n
e n ega ti ve p osi tion

Di i i Ti m Ti m e of m i dd l e of
v s on s e
v ib ra tion

85
 MEMO IRS O N

Weigh ts m oved to p osi tive p osi tion

’
l 0 23 1 5
h

3 0 30

3 7 45

45 1

52 20

59 34

11 6 49

M o tio n of th e a r m
T im e o f v ib ra t io n 7 16
’

E X PE RI ME NT X VI I . MA Y 30

Wigh ts in
e n ega tive p os i tio n

Di
v is ion s T im T im e of m i dd l e of
e
V ib ra t io n

'
b
1 0 19 0
25 0
29 0
40 0
49 0
51 0
11 1 0

Weigh ts m oved to p osi tive p osi tio n

1 1 1 1 37
b '

1 8 42

25 40

32 43

86
 THE LAWS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

'

11 b
3 9 44

46 46

53 48

0 0 55

Weigh ts mo ved to n ega tive p osition

3 2 44

3 9 44

53 50

1 0 55

15 4

22 5

M o t io n of th e ar m o n m o v in g w e ig h ts f r o m to z

to
T im e of v ib ra t io n at

87
 ME MO IRS O N

ON TH E M E TH O D
C O MPUTING T H E D E N SIT Y o n T H E E A R TH
OF

F RO M TH E SE E XRE R IM E N TS
I sh all fi rst co m p ute th is o n th e s upposi ti o n th a t th e ar m ,

an d copper rod s h ave o weigh t a n d th at th e w eigh ts e x ert n o

n ,

se n si ble attra cti o e x cept o n th e e a rest ball ; a n d sh a l l th e n

n, n

e x a m i n e wh a t correctio n s are n ecess a ry o n acco u n t o f th e ar m ,

a n d rods a n d so m e oth er s m al l cau ses

,
.

Th e firs t t h i n g is to fin d th e force requ ired to d r a w th e ar m

,

aside wh i ch as was be f ore said i s to be deter m i n ed by th e ti m e

, , ,

o f a vi brati o n .

Th e dista n ce of th e ce n tres o f th e t wo balls fro m e ac h o th e r ‘

is i n ch es an d th erefore th e dista n ce o f each f ro m the

,

ce n tre o f m oti o n i s a n d th e l en gth of a p e n d u l u m v i

br a tin g seco n d s in th is cli m a te i s ,

th erefore if t he , ,

stiff n ess o f t h e wi re by wh ich th e ar m is suspe n d ed i s su ch ,

that th e force w hi ch m u s t be applied to each ba l l in ord er to ,

d raw t h e ar m aside by th e a n gle A i s to th e weigh t of that ,

ball as th e arch o f A to th e r a di u s th e ar m wil l vi brat e in th e ,

s a m e ti m e as a pe n d ul u m wh ose le n gth is i n ch es th at Is i n , ,

3 87 5
seco n ds ; an d th ere f ore if th e , s t ifi n e s s o f th e mm 18

su ch as to m ake i t vibrate i N seco n d s th e f orce wh i ch n , m ust

be appl ied to eac h ball in order to d raw i t asi de by the , an gl e
l
A is to th e weig h t o f t h e bal l as th e arch o f A x -

N
, 2

to th e r ad i u s B u t th e i vory scal e at th e e n d o f th e ar m i s
.

i n ch es f ro m t h e ce n tre o f m otio n a n d eac h di visi o n is 91 , 3

o f an i n ch an d th erefore s ub t e n d s an a n gl e at th e ce n tre wh ose

, ,

arch is 74 g an d th erefore t h e f orce wh ich m ust be a pplied to

1
—

each ball to draw th e a r m asid e by o n e di visio n is to th e weight

, ,

1 1
o f t h e ball as to 1 o r as N ”
to 1 , .

76 6 N 81 8
2

u s :u s in th e s i m p lep e n du l u m vibr a ti ng
[ O r th g the or di n a r y n ota tio n f or
th r o ugh s m a ll a r cs , if th e f or ce o n ea ch ba ll d r a win g th e a r m a side th r ou g h a n

arc
wer e my th e ar m
°
a r e s ubte n d i n g a n a ng le o f A wou ld vibr a te li ke a
r a diu s

p end u lu m o f th e sa me le n g th , and h a ve a p er iod c

se on ds , be c a u se th e
p er iod o f a p e n d u lu m va r ies a s the s q u a r e r oo t o f i ts len g th . B u t th ef o r ce va r ies

1
ar m
°
as
?
ther ef or e the f o r ce r e q u i r ed to dr a w th e th r oug h A with
(p e riod)
88
 THE L A WS O F GRAV I TAT I O N

Thee x t th i n g is to fin d th e propor ti o n w hich th e attracti o n

n ,

o f th e weigh t o n t h e b a ll be a rs to t h a t o f th e e a rth ther e o su p n ,

posi n g th e b al l to be pl ced i th e m i ddle o f th e case th a t is a n . ,

to be n o t n e a rer to o e sid e th an t h e oth er Wh e n th e weigh ts n .

are appro a ch d t o th e b alls th e i r c e n tres ar e

e in ch es f ro m ,

th e m iddl e li n e o f t h e case ; bu t t h rough i n adv e rte n ce th e , ,

d ista n ce f ro m e ach oth er o f th e rod s w hich su pport th es e

, ,

w e igh ts was m ade equ al to th e di sta n ce o f th e ce n tres o f th e

,

b l ls f ro m each oth er wh ere a s i t ough t to have bee n so m ewh at

a ,

gr e ater In co n sequ e n ce o f thi s th e ce n tres o f t h e w e igh ts are

.
,

n o t e x actly opposite to th ose o f th e b a lls w he n th ey a e ap ,

r

r oac h e d togeth e r ; a n d th e e ff e ct o f th e w eigh ts i d rawi g

p n n ,

th e ar m asid e is l e ss th an i t w ou l d otherwise h ve bee in th e

, a n ,

tri pl icat e ratio o f to th e ch ord o f th e a n gl e wh ose si n e i s

th e t riplicate rati o o f the cosi n e
or in of l
g
t h is a n gle to
th e r a di us o r in th e ratio o f 9 779 to
, .

A
°

“
! N mg
are o f c
P8 770 N to d r a w
9
x . A n d th e f or e r eq u i r ed

th e arm th r o ug h 1 c
s a le d ivisio n w i th p er iod N
”

1
20
_ mg x x
36 65
1
_ mg x x
76 6 N 2
‘

[ L et W
be the p os itio n of
of m a ss W B
“
th e w eig h t ,

th e p osi tio n i t wa s i n te n d
ed th a t i t sh o u ld h ave a n d m ,
“
tha t f
”
o the ba l l o f m a ss m .

Th e d is ta n e m B o r WA is c , ,

i n h es, a nd O W a n d O m
c
in h es Ca ll W A a n d
c .

Wm a an d b r esp e cti vely , a n d

G the g r a vi ta tio n o n s ta n t c .

Th e n it w a s i n te n de d th a t
the a ttr a cti on to m ove th e ar m

s h o u ld
G °
Wm '

be bu t i t is
“ 2

G -
Wm -

£ 1"
2
a n d so is less th a n
b b
wa s i n te n ded i n th e r a tio o f
gi 0
f C ]
3
3
'
to l , or o 08 t0 1
b 2
89
 ME MO IRS O N

E ach of t h e weigh ts weigh s gra in s a n d th erefore is ,

equa l in weigh t to sph e ri ca l f eet o f w a ter an d th er e f ore

i ts a ttracti o o n a p a rticle plac e d h t th e c e n tre o f th e ball i s to
n
‘

th e attrac t io n o f a sph erica l foot o f wat e r o n an e qual particle

placed o n i ts su rfac e as l 0 6 4 x 9 779 x o 1 Th e ,
. . .

m ea n d ia m ete r o f th e earth is f ee t ;r a n d th erefore ‘

,

if t h e m ea n de n si ty o f th e earth i s to that o f water as D to o n e ,

th e attractio n o f th e lead e weigh t o n t h e b al l wil l be to th t of n a

th e earth thereo n as x 9 779 x to , D .

1 D .
I
[ Th a t is , i s eq u a l to th e we i h t o a s h er e o wa ter w h i h ca n be i n s r ibe d i n
g f p f c c .

a c
ube wh ose vo l u m e i s cu f t o r we ca n exp r ess th e vol u m e o th e sp h e r e
f .
,

by th e n u m ber wh e n th e u n i t of vo lu me is th a t of a sp h er e of 1 f oot in

dia m e ter th a t is , , f
o
g
—
cu .
f t Th e r a d iu s o f a sp h e r i a l c f oo t o
f wa ter is , c
a cor d

i n gly, 6 i n hes c . C ave n dish e vide n tly u ses K ir wa n

’
s es tim a te o f gr a in s
to th e i n of wa ter
cu . . .

c c
Th e e n s u i n g a l u la tio n ca n be s ta ted th u s Ca l l d a n d d th e de n si ties of
’

c
wa te r a n d of th e ea r th r esp e tively m th e m ass of th e ba ll a n d G th e g r a vi ta ,

c
tio n o n s ta n t Th e vo l u me of th e ea r th i n sp h er i a l u n i ts i s ( 41 800
. a nd c
i ts r a di u s 6 x 41 800 000 i n h es c .

A tt r a tio n c f
o weig h t on ba l l at i n h esc
A ttr ac tion o
f ea r th o n ba l l
(6 x 41 800
6 2

. 9779 x 1 0 6 4 x .

(7 ) 8 85
—

1
41 800 000
g
8 73 9 000 D
B u t we h a ve 89)
a lr ea dy f ou n d (p age
Fo r ce r eq u ir ed to dr a w the a r m th r o u g h 1 d iv .

Weigh t of ba l l

D ividi n g eq u a tion ( 1) by (2) we h a ve

A ttra tion of c w eigh t on ba ll 8 18 N 2
N 9

Fo r ce r eq u ir ed to dr a w the a r m th r o ugh 1 d i v . 8 73 9 000D 1 0 6 83 D

no .
f
o div th r oug h w h i h the
. c ar m is d r a w n E B di v ]

1 In s t r ic t i i e s s , i n s te a o f t h e m e a n d ia m e te r o f t h e e a r th , to
we o u g h t, d
tak e t h e d ia m e te r o f t h at s p h e r e w h o s e a tt r a t io n is e u al t o th e f o r e o f c q c
g ra v ity in t h is c l im ate ; b u t th e iff e r e n c e is n o t w o r th r e g a r d in g d .

1; [ H u tto n h a s p oi n ted o u t ( 54) th a t th is n u m ber sh ou ld be bu t it

w il l n o t ma ke a n y a pp r e iable ha n ge i n th e va l u e of D ] c c .

90
 THE L A WS O F G RA V I T AT I O N

It is sh e w n th erefore th at th e force wh ich m u st be applied

, ,

to each ball in order t o d raw th e a r m o n e divisio n o u t o f its

,

1
n atural posi tio n is “ o f t h e w e i gh t o f t h e bal l
; an d 1 f th e
81 8 N
, ,

m ea n de n sity o f th e earth i s t o that o f wa t er as D to 1 t h e at ,

1
trac ti o n o f th e weigh t o n t h e bal l i s o f th e weigh t f o
D
that ball an d th ere f ore th e a ttracti o n will be abl e to dra w th e
“
818 N N
2

divis
io n s ; an th erefore if o n m ovi n g th e weigh ts fro m the m id
d ,

way t o a n ear posi tio n t h e a m i s fou n d to m ove B divisio n s o r

r
,

if i t m oves 2 B di visio n s o n m ovi n g th e weigh t s f r o m o n e n ear

posi tio n t o th e oth er i t follows that th e de n si ty o f th e earth
, ,

N
2

or D ,
is
We m u st n o w co n 8 1 der th e correctio n s } whi ch m u st be ap
pli e d to thi s resul t ; first f o r th e e ff ect wh ich th e resi sta n ce of
,

t h e a r m t o m otio n h as o n t h e ti m e of th e ibratio 2d for th e v n ,

at t ractio n o f th e weigh ts o n th e a r m :3 d f o r th ei r a t t ra cti o , n

o n th e farth er ball 4 th f o r th e at t racti o n of t h e copper rod s

,

o n th e balls a n d a r m 5 t h f or th e at tractio n o f th e case o n th e

,

balls an d ar m a n d 6 th for th e al teratio n o f th e attr a cti o n o f

,

th e weigh ts o n th e balls accordi n g to t h e posi ti o n of the ar m

, ,

an d t h e e ff ect wh ich th at h as o n th e t i m e of vibr a tio n N on e .

o f th ese correctio n s i n d eed ,

e x cept th e l ast a r e o f m u ch si g
, ,

n ific a t io n bu t th e y ough t n o t e n ti rely to be n eglected

, .

As to th e first i t m ust be co n sid e red th t d u ri n g th e vibra

, , a

tio n s o f th e ar m an d balls p a rt o f th e f orce is sp e t in a c c e l e r

, n

ati n g t h e ar m ; an d th ere f ore in ord e r to fin d th e force r e ,

qu ired to d raw th e m o u t of th ei r n atu ral posi tio n we m u st ,

fin d th e proporti o n wh ich th e f orces spe n t i a ccel erati n g th e n

ar m an d balls bear to each oth er .

L et E D O edc ( Fig 4) be th e ar m B an d b th e balls C s

. . .

t h e susp e n di n g wi re The a r m co n sists of 4 p a rts first a d e al

.
,

rod D cd ,
i n ch es l o n g ; 2d th e silv e r wi re D O d weigh i n g 1 70
, ,

grai n s 3 d th e e n d pieces D E an d ed to w h ic h th e ivory

, ,

[ T his n u m ber s hou ld See la s t n o te ]

be
c c
1 [ For a dis u ss ion of these o r r e tion s sim ila r to tha t of c , Ca ven dish bu t ,

c
w ith moder n m a them a ti a l tr ea tm en t see R e i h ,
c
91
 ME M O I RS O N

ver n ier is faste n ed each o f wh i ch weigh s 45 gra i n s ; an d 4th

‘

, ,

so m e brass work C o a t th e ce n tre T h e d eal rod whe n dry

,
.
, ,

weigh s 23 20 gr ai n s bu t wh e n very d am p as i t co m m o n ly was

, ,

d uri n g th e e x peri m e n ts w e igh s 2400 th e tr n sverse sectio n is

,
a

o f th e sh ap e represe n ted in Fig 5 th e thi ck .

n e ss BA an d th e d i m e n si o n s o f th e part
,

D E ed b e i g th e sa m e in al l p a rts ; bu t th e
,
n

b breadt h E h di m i n i sh es grad ually fro m th e ,

m i ddle to t h e e n ds Th e area o f t h is sec .

tio n i s 3 3 of a sq u are i n c h at th e m i d dle an d 1 46 at th e

. , .

e n d ; a n d th erefore if an y poi n t a ( Fig

,
4) i take n in cd . s ,

or 2400 x 3 3
call ed cc t h i s i o d we i gh s per 1 n c h at
.

an d 18
dd
,
73 3 . x . 23 8
2400 x 1 4 6 2400 33
at th e
. .

en d’ an d
x . 23 8 . 23 8

at so ; an d th erefore as t h e w eigh t
, of th e wi re is
7
£2
3 ;
per i n ch th e deal
,
rod an d wi re togeth er m ay be co n s

as a rod wh ose w e igh t at

s ide r e d per i n ch .

B u t th e f orce requ i re d to accelerate an y q ua n ti ty of m atter

“
pl a ced a t a is proportio n al to as ; that i s i t i s to th e force re
, ,

q ui red to acceler a te th e sa m e qu a n tity of m atter placed at d as

a
“
to 1 ; an d th erefore if cd is call e d l a n d a i s su pposed to
, ,

flow th e fiu x io n of th e forc e requ ire d to accel e ra te th e deal

,

92
 TH E LA WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

ls: ) th e flu e n t
’
'

cc x ( 3 49 0 1 8 48 a
r o d an wi re is proportio n al to
d

of wh ich ge n erated wh il e a fl ows fro m

, c to d
l 49 0
_ x
73 3
‘ 3
so th a t th e force requ ired t o accelerate each h al f of th e d eal
rod a n d wi re i s th e s am e as is requi red to acc e lerate 3 5 0 grai n s
,

placed a t d .

T h e r e sist a ce to m otio o f each o f th e pieces de is equal to

n n ,

th at o f 48 gra i s pl a ced at d ; as t h e dist an c e o f th e i r ce n tr e s o f

n

gravity fro m O is 3 8 i n ch es Th e resist an ce o f th e brass work .

at th e ce n tre m ay be disr e gard e d an d th erefore th e w h ol e forc e

req uired to a ccel e r a te th e a m i s th e s a m e as t h at requ ired to r ,

a cc e lerate 3 9 8 gr a i n s pl a c e d at e a ch o f t h e poi n t s D an d d .

E a ch o f th e ball s weigh s gr a i s an d th ey ar e placed n

,

at th e sa m e d ist a ce fro m t h e c e n t re as D a n d d ; an d th er e
n

f ore th e f orce requ ired to accel e rate th e balls a d a r m to

,
n

geth er i s th e sa m e as if each ball w e igh e d

,
a n d th e a r m

had n o w eigh t ; a n d th erefore s upposi n g th e ti m e of a vibr a ,

tio n to be giv e n th e f orc e requir e d to d raw th e a r m aside i s

, ,

greater th a n if th e ar m h ad n o weigh t in th e proporti o n o f ,

to or of to 1 .

To fin d t h e ttr a ctio n o f th e w eigh ts o n th e ar m th rough d

a ,

d r a w th e verti c a l pla n e dw b perpe n d icular to D d a n d let w ,

be t h e c e n tre o f th e weigh t w h ich th ough n o t a ccu rate l y in , ,

th is pl a n e m ay w ith o u t se n sible error be co si dered as placed

, , ,
n

th er e i n an d l et b be th e ce n tre o f th e b all ; th e n wb i s h ori

,

z o n t al a n d : 8 85 an d db is verti cal a d : 5 5 ; l e t w d
.
, a wb n . z
,

b an d let
—
,
g or l
g th e n th e attracti o n o f th e weigh t
—
,

o n a particle o f m att e r at st in th e directi o n bw i s t o its a t , ,

tractio n o n th e sa me parti cle placed a t b : :

b o r is
3

6
3

proporti o n al to a n d th e force o f t h at attrac t i o n to

?
( Z) 2
2 2 ~

+Z
-

a
3

m ove th e ar m , is proportio n al to
6 —
z ) an d th e weigh t of
the deal rod an dwire at th e poi n t cc was before sai d to be ,

3 490 — 1 848 x 1 6 42 + 1 8 48 z
per i n ch ; an d t h erefore if dz ,

flows t h e fl u x io n
,
of th e power to m ove th e ar m

93
 M E M O IR S O N

“ 1 8 48 s X0
2
3
1 64
‘ 3
z
—
lz x
—
2 x ( 8 21 + 9 24
(
z
d

a
x ( 821 + 1 03 5
'

bz 7
.

(
2

(
2
a a

3
wh ich as ,

(
i
a —
i
5 7; x ( 8 95 + 1 03
3 3
2 ) 9 24 5 7;
. Th e fl ue n t Of th is
l 1/ a + l
2 2 g "
z

a 3
924 b
3
8 95 h 1 03 b lz + V a H— l
3
1 03 b
’ 2
s z
l og
Z
3
a

an th e forc e wi t h w hich th e attracti o n O f th e weigh t on th e

d ,

n earest h a l f O f th e d e a l rod a n d wi re te n ds to m ove t h e ar m , ,

i s proportio n a l to th is fl ue n t ge n er a ted wh ile 2 flows fro m 0

t o 1 th a t is to 1 28 gr a i n s
, ,
.

T h e forc e with wh ich th e attracti o n Of th e weigh t o n th e e n d

piece de te n d s to m ove th e ar m i s proporti o n al to 4 7x [ ap p r oxi

6
,
;
m a tely ] or 29 g r ain s ; a n d th erefore th e wh ol e power O f t h e
i

w eigh t to m ove th e a r m by m e a n s O f its at t ractio n o n th e n ear ,

est part thereo f i s equ a l to its attractio n o n 1 5 7 gram s placed

,

1 57
a t b w h ich 1 8
,
o r 0 1 3 9 Of i ts attract i o n o n th e ball
’ . .

1 1 26 2
It m u st be Observed that th e e ff e ct O f th e attractio n Of t h e , .

weigh t o n th e wh ol e ar m is rath er less th an th is as its attrae ,

tio o n t h e farth er h al f d raws it t h e co n trary way ; b t as th e

n u ,

a ttrac t io o n th is i s s m all
n in co m pariso n o f its attractio n o n ,

th e n earer h al f i t m ay be di sregard ed , .

T h e attracti o n O f the w e igh t o n th e fu rth est ball in th e ,

d ir e c ti o n bw is to i ts attracti o n o n th e n earest ball w h w B r

,
a a‘

00 1 7 : 1 ; an d th er e fore th e e ffect Of th e attractio of th e n

weigh t o both balls is to th at Of i ts attractio n o n th e n e arest

n ,

ba l l 9983 1 . .

[ f
A ew m i n or m i sp r i n ts i n th e la s t two p a r ag r ap hs i n the or ig in a l p ap er

h a ve been o rr e ted c c
A r e a l u la tion seem s to g i ve
. c c i n s tea d of 1 28 a n d ,

28 i n s tea d of 29 g r a in s ; th is wo u ld h a n ge th e va l u e of D by 1 p a r t i n
,
c
[ h ]
3
1 T h is is e r r on eou s l y p r i n ted in t e or ig i n al a s wd w D 3
.

94
 THE L AWS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

T O fin d th e attractio n Of th e copper rod o n th e n earest ball ,

let b an d 70 ( Fig 6 ) be th e ce n tres O f th e ball an d w eigh t , an d
.

ea th e perpe n di cular part O f t h e copper r o d , w h ich co n sists Of

t wo parts a d an d de a d weigh s
,
grai n s , an d i s 1 6 i n ch es
.

lo n g, an d i s n early bisected by 10 de weigh s an d i s 46 .

i n ch es lo n g w b i s . i n ch es a , n d is perpe n di cular to ew .

N o w th e attrac t i o n of a li n e ew
, ,

Of u n ifor m th ick n ess o n b in th e , ,

di rectio n bw is to that Of t h e sa m e ,

qua n ti ty O f m atter placed at w bw

eh ; a n d t h erefore th e attr a c t io n

Of th e part da equals that o f

z2 o wb
ty o r 1 6 3 00 13 13 0 6 d at w
.

’ , ,

an d th e attracti o n Of de e qu al s
b”
th at Of 41 000 x 5
3
9 x ,
ed be
dw bw
placed at th e
X
Wl d or 2500,
—
’

sa m e poi t so th a t th e a ttraction
n

Of th e perpe n dic ular part Of th e

copper rod o n b is to th at of th e ,

weigh t th ereo n as ,

000 o r as 00 771 to 1
,
. As f o r th e .

at tractio n Of th e i n cl i n ed part Of
th e r o d an d woode n bar m ark ed ,

Pr an d r r in Fig 1 it m ay safely .
,

be n eglected an d so m ay th e attracti o n O f th e wh ol e rod o n th e

,

ar m an d f a rth e st bal l ; a n d th er e for e t h e attractio n O f th e w e ight

an d copp e r rod o n th e ar m an d bo t h balls togeth e r e x c e ed s th e

, ,

attr ctio n Of th e weigh t n t h e n e ar e st ball in th e proportio n

a o ,

Of to o n e o r O f to 1 , .

Th e n e x t th i n g to be co n sidered i s th e a t tr a cti o n Of th e m a ,

h ogan y case N O W it is evide n t th at wh e th e ar m sta n ds at

.
, n

t h e m id dle d ivisio n th e at t r a ctio n s Of th e opposi t e sid e s O f th e

,

case b al an c each oth er an d have n o pow e r t o d ra w th e ar m

e ,

eith e r w ay Wh e n th e ar m i s re m ov e d fro m thi s d ivisi o n i t is

.
,

a ttr a ct e d a lit tl e towards t h e n e a r e s t i d e so t h a t t h e f orc e r e

h
s ,

qu ired to d raw t h e ar m asi de is rath e r less th a n it wo ld o th er u

wise be b u t yet if th i s force is proporti o n a l to t h e d ista n c e of

,

the ar m fro m th e m id dle divisio n i t m ak s o e rror i th e r e ,

e n n

95
 ME MO IRS O N

s ul t ; for th ough th e attracti o n will draw th e ar m asid e m ore

,

th a n it woul d oth erwise do yet as th e accelerati n g force by , ,

w h ich th e a r m i s m ade to vi brate is d i m i n ish ed in th e sa m e

proporti o n the square Of t h e ti m e O f a vi brati o n wil l be in
,
~

cr e ased in th e sa m e proporti o n as th e spac e by w h ich th e ar m

i s draw n aside an d th erefore th e resul t w i ll be th e sa m e as if
,

t h e case e x erted n o attractio n ; bu t if t h e attractio n Of t h e ,

case i s n o t p roportio n al to th e dist an c e O f th e ar m f ro m th e

m iddl e poi n t th e ratio in wh ich th e accel e rati n g f orce is di
,

m i n ish e d is d i ff ere n t in differe n t par ts Of t h e vibrati o n an d ,

th e sq u are Of th e ti m e Of a vibrati o n wil l n o t be i n creased in

t h e sa m e proportio n as th e qua n ti ty by w hi ch th e a r m is d ra w n
asi de an d th erefore th e resu lt will be al tered th ereby
, .

O n co m pu t a tio n I fin d th a t th e force by w h ich t h e attrae

,

ti o n d r ws th e ar m fro m th e ce n tre i s far fro m bei n g propor

a

t io n al t o th e dista n ce b ut th e w h ole force is so s m all as n o t t o

,
t

be wort h regardi n g ; f or in n o positi o n Of th e ar m does t h e ,

a ttractio n O f th e case o n th e balls e x ceed th at o f h Of a spheri c

4 t
i n ch Of water pl aced at th e dista n ce Of o n e i n ch fro m th e c e n
,

tr e Of t h e balls a n d th e attractio n Of th e lead e n weigh t equals

th at O f sph eri c feet Of water placed at i n ch es o r Of ,

23 4 sph eric i n ch es plac e d at 1 i n ch d ista n ce ; so t h at t h e a t

tractio n O f th e case o n th e bal ls c an in n o pos i tio n Of th e ar m
e x ceed fi lm Of th at o f th e w eigh t Th e co m p u tatio n is give n .

in th e Appe n di x .

I t h as bee n sh ow n th erefore that th e force requi red to d ra w

, ,

the a r m asid e o n e d ivisio n i s greater tha n i t woul d be if th e ,

a r m had n o weigh t in th e ratio Of ,

to 1 an d th ere f ore ,

O f th e weigh t O f th e ba l l ; a n d m oreover th e attractio n ,

818 N
2

O f th e weigh t a n d copper rod o n th e a r m a n d bot h balls t o

g e th er e x ce e ds th e at t racti o n O f t h e weigh t 0 11 the n earest ball

, ,

I 01 99
in th e ratio Of to 1 an d th erefore : Of th e
,
8 , 73 9 , 000 D
8 1 8N Q

w e i gh t Of th e ball ; co n s e que n tly D really equal to l ogs 18

as b y th ef o f
1 0 1 99 N N 2 2

x i n stead Of * ’ ’
8 73 9 0 00 B
, , 1 0 8 44B 1 O 6 S3 E
, ,

m e r co m p utati o n I t re m ai n s to be co n sidered h ow m u ch th i s
.

is a ff ected by th e posi ti o n Of t h e ar m .

T
[ is sh o u ld be
h see n ote on pp 90. a nd

96
 TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TAT I O N

Suppose th e weights to be approach ed to th e bal ls ; let W

( Fig 7) be
. th e ce tre Of o n e o f th e weigh ts ; l et M be th e
n en c

tre O f th e n e arest ball at i ts m ea n positio n as w h e n th e ar m is ,

at 20 d ivisio n s ; l et B be th e poi n t w hic h i t actually rests at ;

an d let A be th e poi n t which i t w ou ld rest at i f th e weigh t was ,

re m oved ; co n seque n tly AB i s th e spac e by wh i ch i t is d raw n

,

a side by m ea n s Of th e attractio n ; a n d le t M iG be t h e space by

wh ic h it woul d be draw n asi de i f t h e attractio n o n it was ,

th e sa m e as w h e n i t i s at M B u t th e attractio n at B i s greater
.

th an a t M in th e proporti n f WM WB ; an d th erefore
,
o o
2 ”
,

WM : ?

A B Mfl x M fB x 1 very early
WB
n
MW
Z ”

“ .

L et n o w th e weigh ts be m ov e d to th e co n traryn ear posi tio n ,

a n d let w be n o w th e ce n tre of th e n earest weigh t a n d b t h e p i n t ,

o

2“
Of rest Of th e ce n tre Of th e b all th e n A s B x +
2M b
an d Bb Z M 'B x 2+ + so th at th e
MW
wh ol e m otio n E h is greater th an i t wo uld be if t h e attractio n
o n the bal l w as t h e sa m e in al l places as it is at M in th e rati o ,

Bb
Of 1 + to o n e ; an d th erefore d oes n o t depe n d se n sibly
MW
, ,

o n th e p lace Of th e ar m in eith er positio n Of th e weigh ts bu t

, ,

o n ly on th e qua n t ity O f its m otio n by m ovi n g th e m , .

Th is variati o n in th e attractio n Of th e w eigh t affec t s also ,

th e ti m e of vibratio n for suppose th e weigh ts t o be ap

,

p r o ac h e d to th e balls let W ,be th e ce n tre Of th e n earest

w eigh t ; let B an d A r e prese n t th e sa m e th i n gs as before an d

let a:be th e ce n tre Of th e ball a t an y poi n t Of i ts vibr a ti o n let

,

AB represe n t th e force with wh i ch th e b al l wh e n placed at B , ,

is d raw n towards A by th e stiff n ess Of th e wi re th e n as B i s ,

the poi n t Of rest th e attracti o n o f th e w igh t th ereo n w ill also

, e

equ al AB ; a n d wh e n th e b al l is a t a th e forc e wi th wh ich it

, .

is draw n to wards A by th e stiff n ess O f th e wi re A :

,
c an d t hat ,
—
,

wit h wh ich i t is draw n in th e co n trary directio n by th e attrae ,

AB x s o that the actual force by wh ich i t i s draw n

-

97
 ME MO IRS O N

A B WB 2

to wards A A ce A B + Bx A B >< —

Wa:
-

2B x x A B
very n early SO that t h e act u al force with w hich
WB
.

th e bal l is d raw n toward s th e m i ddle poi n t O f th e vibr a tio n i s ,

less tha n i t woul d be if th e weigh ts were re m oved in th e rati o ,

is?
t o o n e an d th e s q u are Of t h e ti m e Of a vibratio n is
}
,

i n creased in th e ratio Of 1 to 1 w h ich di ff ers very l ittle

Bb
fro m t h at Of to 1 w h ic h is th e rati o in wh ic h th e
1+
MW
,
~

m otio n Of th e ar m by m ovi n g th e weigh ts fro m o n e n ear posi

,

t iOn to th e other is i n creased , .

Th e m otio n O f th e ball a n sweri n g to on e d ivisio n O f th e ar m

‘

an d If M B i IS the m ot 1 o n Of t h e ball a n swer i n g

t
20 x
,

MB 3 6 6 5d d
t o d d 1 v 1 8 1 o n s o n th e ar m
' .

WM 1 85
, ’

th erefore th e ti m e Of vibra tio n an d m otio n O f th e ar m m u st

, , ,

l co r r e c te d as foll ows
% ’
? If th e ti m e Of vibrati o n i s determ i n ed by an e xperi m e n t in
w h ich th e weigh ts are in th e n e ar positi o n an d th e m oti o n Of ,

th e ar m by m ovi n g th e weigh ts fro m th e n ear t o th e m i d w ay

,

posi tio is d d ivisio n s th e Observed ti m e m u s t be d i m i n ished

n, ,

Z
in th e s ubd upl icate rati o Of 1 to 1 th at is in th e ratio —

%
1 5
, ,

O f 1 to 1 ; b u t, w h e n i t i s deter m i n ed by an e x peri m e n t
in wh ich th e weigh ts are in t h e m i d way positio n n o correc t io n ,

m u st be applied .

T O correct th e m otio n Of th e ar m caused by m ovi n g t h e

weigh ts fro m a n ear t o th e m i dway posi tio n o r th e reverse , ,

Observe h ow m uch th e posi tio n Of th e ar m di ff ers fro m 20

d ivi sio n s w h e n t h e weigh ts are in th e n e a r positio n ; l et th is
,

be n divisi o n s the n if th e ar m at that ti m e is on t h e sa m e sid e

, ,

Of th e divisio n Of 20 as th e weigh t th e Observed m otio n m u st be ,

[ Th i s n u m be r , her e ,
a n d ag a in i n the nea t li n e , is err on eo usly

in Ca ven dish s m em oir a s

’

p r in ted
i [ In th e or ig in a l th is is er r o n eou sly p ri n ted as mB .
]
98
 TH E LA WS O F GRAV ITATIO N

2
185
d i m i n ished by th e part O f th e w h ole ; but oth erwise i t , ,

m u st be as m u ch i n creased .

If th e w eigh ts are m oved fro m o n e n ear position to th e oth er ,

a n d th e m otio n Of th e ar m i s 2d divisio n s th e Observe d m o t io n ,

2d
m ust be di m i n is h ed by th e part Of th e wh ol e .

1 85
If th e weigh ts are m oved fro m o n e n ear posi tio n t o th e oth er ,

an d th e ti m e Of vibratio n i s deter m i n ed w h ile th e weigh ts a r e

in o n e o f th ose posi tio n s th ere is n o n eed O f correcti n g ei ther

,

th e m otio n Of th e ar m o r th e ti m e o f v ibr ation i

y$
.
, n

C ON C L U SI ON
Th e f ollow in g table con ta in s th e r es u l t o f th e exp er i m en ts

E xpo r . DO . c o rr . T im e V ib . DO . co r r . De n s ny

'
6 54

[ Th e cor r e cti o n s n eu tr a l ize ea ch o th er , c

sin e th ey ar e the sa m e f or N 2
and

B wh ose
,
r a tio e n ter s i n to the exp r ess io n f or D .
]
99
 M E M O IR S O N

Fro m th is table i t appears that th ough th e e x peri m e n ts ,

agree pretty wel l togeth er yet th e d i ff ere n ce betwee n the m

, ,

bo th in th e qua n ti ty O f m otio n O f th e a m an d in th e ti m e Of r

vibratio n i s great e r th an c an proceed m erely fro m th e error O f

,

Observatio n A s to th e differe n c e in t h e m otio n o f t h e ar m i t

.
,

m ay very wel l be acco u n ted for fro m th e cu rre n t O f ai r pro ,

du c e d by th e differe n ce o f te m perat u re b u t w h et h er this c an ,

acco u n t f o r th e differe n ce in th e ti m e O f vibratio n is d oubt f ul , .

If th e cu rre n t O f air was regular an d O f th e s a m e swift n ess in ,

all parts O f th e v ibrati o n Of th e ball I th i n k it coul d n o t ; b u t , ,

as th ere will m ost li kely be m uch i rreg u l a rity in th e c u rre n t i t ,

m ay very likely be sufficie n t to accou n t f o r th e di ffere n ce .

By a m ea n of th e e x peri m e n ts m ad e wi th the wire first u sed ,

the de n sity O f th e earth co m es o u t ti m es grea t er tha n

that Of water ; a n d by a m ea n O f t h ose m ade w it h t h e latter
wire i t co m es o u t th e sa m e ; an d th e e x tre m e difl e r e n c e Of th e
,

resul ts Of th e 23 Observati o n s m ade w ith this Wi re i s o n ly 75 , .

SO that th e e x tre m e res ul ts do n o t di ff er f ro m th e m ea n by m ore

tha n 3 8 o r 1 14 O f th e w h ole an d th erefore th e de n sity Sh o uld

.
, ,

see m to be deter m i n ed hereby t o great e x act n ess It i n d eed , .

, ,

m ay be obj ected that as th e resu l t appears to be i n fl ue n ced by

,

th e cu rre n t O f ai r o r so m e ot h er cau se th e l a ws O f w hich we

, ,

are n o t w e l l acq uai n ted w ith thi s cause m ay perh aps act a l ,

ways o r co m m o n ly in th e sa m e directi o n a n d th ereby m ake a

, , ,

co n si derable error in th e resu lt B ut yet as t h e e x peri m e n ts .

,

were trie d in vario us weath ers an d with co n si derable v ariety ,

in th e di ffere n ce of te m peratu re Of th e weigh ts an d ai r an d ,

with th e ar m resti n g at d iffere n t dista n ces fro m th e sides Of

th e case it see m s very u n li kely that thi s cause sh ou l d act so
,

u n i f or m ly in th e sa m e way as to m ak e t h e error of th e m ea n
,

resu lt n early equal to th e di ff ere n ce betwee n th i s an d th e e x

'

[ Th is s h o u ld be H a d the th ir d n u m ber i n th e c o l u mn o
f d e n s i ties bee n
in s tea d f
o th e a ver age wo u ld h a ve been as Ca ve n dish g a ve i t . B ut
, . c c
Ba ily ( 79 p 9 0) r e a l ula ted the den sities f r om Ca ven dish s da ta , a n d f o u n d
’

c
to be o r r e t c
Cu r iou sly en ou gh Ca ve n dish m a de th e sa m e er r o r i n dedu c
.

i n g th e m ea n r esu l t of th e w h ole n u mber of exp e r im en ts It s h ou ld be n ot .

( whi h w oc
u l d b e h a d b y p u tt in g i n p la e of w i th a p r ob c
a ble er r o r

of . 03 3 . Th e m ea n r esu l t of th e last 23 obser va tio n s is Th e gr ea tes t dif

f e r e n ce f
o th e s i n g le r esu l ts f r o m o n e a n o th e r is 9 7
, a n d t he ex tr em e r es
.u l t
d ifier s f r om th e m ea n of a ll by 57, or g ? of the wh ole
l
. For a n accou n t of
.
.

c
H u tto n s r efl e tio n s o n Ca ven d ish s
’ ’ “
p r etty a n d a m us ing l ittle exp er imen t,
”

see h is p ap er ( 45 a n d 54) they a r e r ef er r ed to i n th is vol u me on p age

1 00
 T ii E LA ws O F GE A t i fr
.

i N

tre m e an d th erefore i t s e e m s very u n li k e ly t hat th e d e n sity

, ,

o f th e earth sh o u l d differ f r o m by so m uc h as 1 1; o f th e
wh ole .
*

A n oth er Objecti o n perh aps m ay be m ade to th ese e x p e r i

, ,

m e n ts n a m ely th at it is u n c e r t ain w h e th er in th ese s m al l

, ,
.
,

d ista n ces th e force o f gravity follows e x actly th sa m e law as

, e

in greater dista n ces Th ere is n o reaso n h o we v er to th i n k

“

.
, ,

that an y i rreg u larity o f thi s ki n d takes place u n til th e bodies ,

co m e wi t h i n th e acti o n O f what is called th e attractio n of c o

h e s io n an d w hich see m s t o e x te n d o n ly to very m i n ute dis
,
.

ta n ces With a vie w to see wh eth er th e result coul d be affected

.

by th is attractio n I m ad e th e 9 th l 0 th 1 1 t h an d 1 5th e xp e r i
, , , ,

m e n ts in w hich th e balls wer e m a d e to rest as cl ose t o th e sides

,

o f th e case as th ey co ul d ; b ut th ere is n o differe n ce to be d e

pe n ded o u betwee n th e results u n der th at circu m sta n ce a n d

, ,

wh e n th e balls are placed in an y oth er part o f the case .

Accord i n g to th e e x peri men t s m ade by D r Mask e ly n e o n .

,

th e a t tracti o n of th e hill Sc h eh all ie n th e de n sity of th e earth ,

i s 4 } ti m es that o f water ; w hi ch d iffers rath er m ore fro m th e

1

precedi n g d eter m i n atio n th a n I s h oul d h ave e x pected B ut I .

f orbear e n teri n g i n to an y co n si deratio n o f wh ich d e ter m i n atio n

i s m ost to be depe n ded o n till I h ave e x a m i n ed m ore carefully
,

h ow m uch th e precedi n g deter m i n atio n is affected by irregular

ities w hose qua n tity I ca n n ot m easure .

[ See n ote on p age

101
 A PPE N DIX
ON TH E A TT R A C T I O N O F TH E M A H O G A NY C A SE O N TH E B A LL S
th i ng a ttracti o n Of th e recta n gular
pla n e ckfib ( Fig 8 ) o n th e
poi n t a pl aced in th e li n e
,

ac perpe n dicular to th is
pla n e .

L et a c a c/c b cb : z
,
z
,
2
a
x , an d l et a
s
£6
2 70
2
, an d
?
b
2
: v
’
,
th e n th e at
a x

tractio n of th e li n e b8 o n ,

a in th e directio n a b
, ,

an d th erefore i f
ab all
; ,

ob flows t h e fl u x io n o f t h e ,

attracti o n th e poi n t a in th e di rectio n cb

, ,

23
2 bw
t/ b w
2 2 2
+a
2
w
th e var iabl e part th e flue n t wh ich log ( v
v

of of
i / l —i
2
-
v
6 k T ah
an d t h erefore t h e wh ole l og x
ac

so th at t h e attractio n Of t he pla e n , in t h e d i rectio n

c b, is f ou n d readily by l og a ri th m s bu t I k n ow n o way O f fi n di n g
,

i ts attractio n in t h e directi o n a c e x cept by an i n fi n ite series

, .
*

[ P l a yf a ir h a s g iven a n exp r essi on i n fi

n ite te r m s f or th is a ttr a tio n o n
pp c .

225 8 of h is p a p e r i n th e T r a n s R o v So c E d in v o l 6 , 1 81 2 p p 1 87— 243 ,

—
. . . .
,
.
, .

103
MEMO IRS O N THE L A WS O F G RA V I TAT I O N

Th e two m ost co n ve n i e n t series I k n ow ar e th e f ol lowi g , n

b
First Series L et a n d let A : arc w h ose ta n g is Bir ,
5
. .

5
7T
-

A — 7r , O : B+—
D:0 etc . Th e n t he attrac t io n in the
Bw 3 Cw 3 5 Dw
2 4 - 6

d i rect i o n
0

ac :
’
I — w x
" A4 “ “

l “

6
f

V 2 2 4 24

For th e seco n d series let A : arc w h ose ta n g , . _ B: A

2
1
C : B+ D:C , etc . The n th e a t t r a c t io n : a rc . 90
°

2
3 5D v ° 6

24 -

It m ust be Observed th a t th e fi rst seri e s f a ils w h e n W is ,

greater tha n u n i ty a n d th e seco n d wh e n it is less b u t if b i s

, , ,

take n equal to th e leas t of th e two li n es oh a n d c b th ere i s n o .

,

cas e in wh ic h o n e o r t h e oth er o f the m m ay n o t be u sed c o n

v e n ie ii tl y .

By th e h elp Of t h ese series I co m puted th e f ol lowi n g table ,

. 196 2 . 3 71 4 . 5145 . 6 248 . 7071 . 7808 . 85 75 . 9 28 5 . 98 1 5

1 96 2 00001
.

3 71 4 . 00039 . 00 148
5 145 . 00074 . 00277 . 00521
6 248 . 0011 0 . 00406 . 00778 011 83 .

7071 . 00 140 . 00522 01008

7808 . 00 171 . 006 3 7 . 0 1245 03 247
8 575 00207 00772 . 0 1 522
9 285 . 00244 . 009 1 0 . 01 8 1 0
. 98 15 . 00271 . 0 1 01 9 . 02084 056 39 07478
. 00284 . 01 054 . 021 3 5 .

ole
Fi n d in th is table w ith th e argu m e n t at top an d th e ar
die
, ,

ob
m t h e lef t ha n d col u m n the correspo n di n g logarith m ;
.

g u e n t in ,
ab

en ti tled Of the Sol ids f

o G c
r ea tes t A ttr a tion or those wh i h a mo n g a ll th e ,
c ,

S olids tha t h a ve cer ta in Pr op er ties a ttr act w ith the g r ea test For e i n a g iven
,
c
[ In the la s t te r m f
o th e ser ies the coe fi c ien t D was o m i tted i n th e or igi n a l ]
1 03
 MEMO IRS O N

the n add togeth er th is l ogarith m th e l ogarith m O f

cb
(i;
an d the,
f
l ogari t h m O f ; th e s u m i s th e l dg ar ith m o f th e attractio n
db
.

To co m p u te f ro m h e n ce th e attractio n o f th e c a se o n th e
ball l e t th e b o x D O BA ( Fig , .

in w hich t h e b a ll plays b e ,

d ivided i n to t wo parts by a ,

vertical secti o n p e r p e n dic ,

ular t o th e le n gth Of th e
case a n d passi n g th rough ,

th e ce n t re O f th e ball ; an d ,

in Fig 9 let th e paralle l .

,

o i e d A BDE a bde be o n e o f
p p
th ese parts ABD E bei n g th e ,

above m e n ti o n ed verti cal sec -

tio n ; l et x be t h e ce n tr o f e

th e ball an d d ra w th e par ,

al l e l o ra m Bn m ix parallel to
g p
B bdD an d xg rp parallel to ,

fia a n d bisect [ 35 in 0 , .

N o w t h e di m e n sio n s o f th e ,

b o x o n th e i n side are B b : 1 75 ; B D : 3 6 ; B B: 1 75 ; an d
, , . . .

(371
6 5 ; wh e n ce I fi n d t h at if x c a n d [ix are take n as in th e t wo
2
,

r lin e s O f th e fol lowi n g t a bl e th e attracti o n s o f th e di ffer

u
pp e
'

e n t parts are a s set d ow n belo w .

x c

Bx
E xc e ss O f at tr ac tio n O f D dr g ab o v e B br g
m drp ab o v e n br p
m e sp a bo v e n a sp

Su m o f t h e se
c
E x e s s o f at tr ac tio n of a 6 a bo v e d i
Aa n B a bo v e B om b

Wh ol e a t t r ac tio n o f t h e in s i d e s u r f ac e o f th e
h al f bo x .

It appears th erefore th at th e attractio n Of th e bo x o n x in

, ,

creases faster tha n in proportio n to th e d ista n ce xc .

Th e specific gravi ty of th e w ood u sed in th is case i s 6 1 an d .

,

i ts th ick n ess i s {2 O f an i n ch ; a n d th erefore if th e a ttracti o n ,

o f th e ou tsi de surface O f th e b o x was t h e sa m e as th at O f th e

1 04
 T HE L AW S O F G R A V I TA T I O N

i n si de t h e w h ole attractio n O f th e b o x o n th e ball wh e n ex

, ,

wo ul d be equ al to 2 x 1 23 1 x 6 1 x i}; c ubi c i n ch es or 201

. .
, .

sph eric i n ches o f water placed at th e dista n ce Of o n e i n ch fro m

,

th e ce n tre o f th e ball In re ali ty it c an n ever be so great as

.

th is as th e attracti o n Of the ou tsid e sur f ace is rath er less th an

,

that O f th e i n side an d m oreover th e d ista n ce o f x fro m c c a

, ,
n

n ever be qu i te so great as 75 Of an i n ch as th e greatest m otio n

.
,

Of th e ar m is o n ly 1 } i n ch 7 .

M u ch h as bee n writte n co n cer n i ng th e Cave n dish e xp e r i

m e n t ; th e f ollowi n g refere n ces m ay be co n sul t e d to adva n tage .

G ilbert in 1 799 tra n slated t h e greater part of Cave n dish s

,
’

p aper i n to Ger m a n for h is A n n a len a d di n g m an y e x p l an at o r y,

n otes A few years l ater B ran des ( 42) gave a fresh m ath e m ati
'

cal a n alysis O f th e e xperi m e n t i n cl u di n g th e e q uatio n s for th e

,

ti m e o f swi n g o f th e torsio n pe n d ul u m in th e e x peri m e n t pro

posed by M u n eke ( see bel ow ) In 1 8 1 5 th e origi n al paper O f .
,

Cave n dis h was tra n slated e n tire i n to Fre n ch by M C h o m p r é .

In 1 821 , H utto n ( 54) recal c ul ated t h e resu l ts o f th e e xp e r i

m e n t after Cave n di sh s o wn f or m ul ae an d fo u n d as h e th ough t
’
, , ,

a copi ou s list o f errata so m e o f wh ich are large o r i m port

“
,

an t .
”
Th e m ea n Of th e fi rst 6 e x peri m e n ts so corrected i s
an d o f th e oth er 23 is th e m ea n o f th ese t wo m ean s i s
wh ich H utto n takes as th e correct resul t give n by th e
Cave n dish e x peri m e n t B aily states h owever ( 79 pp 92
.
, ,
.

t hat H u tto n h i m self h ad f a lle n i n to error an d th at t h e c o m ,

u ta tio n s O f C a v e n dis h are correct e x cep t in th e o n e detail r e

p .

f erred t o o n page 1 00 o f th is vol u m e B aily gives a very care .

f u l criticis m O f th e e x peri m e n t o n pp 88 91 Of h is m e m oir He .

-
.

r m arks tha t C ave n dis li s Obj ect in dr a wi n g u p h i s m e m oir

e
’
, ,

a ppears to h ave bee n m ore f o r th e pu rpose o f e x h ibiti n g a

sp ecimen o f wh at h e co n si dered t o be an e x celle n t m eth od of

d eter m i n i n g th is i m porta n t i n qui ry th an o f d e d u ci n g a resul t

,

th at sh ou l d lay cl ai m to th e f ul l co n fide n ce o f t h e scie n ti fic

world Baily poi n ts o u t th at t h e ti m e was n o t de ter m i n e d
.

wit h d ue acc uracy tha t th e e x peri m e n ts were n o t a rra n ged in

grou ps in order to eli m i n a t e t h e error a risi g f ro m t h e m arch
, n

o f th e resti n g poi n t ; an d th at th e d is ta ce be t w e e t h e w e igh t n n

1 05
 ME MO IRS O N

an d th e ball was assu m e d co n sta n t We sh all see lat er fro m .

th e accou n ts o f th e i v e s t ig ti s p f R i ch Bai ly Cor n u an d

n a on e , ,

Baille an d Boys h ow t h e errors in C a ve n dish s e x peri m e n t h ave

,
’

bee n avoid ed .

Mu n e ke ( 6 1 vol 3 pp 940 70) h as give n an accou n t Of th e

, .
, .
—
‘

e x peri m e n t a d an ad m irable criticis m o f i t a n d co m pares t h e

n ,

r e s u l t with that Obtai n ed by Maskely n e an d H u tto n H e pro .

pose d an oth er m eth od o f u si n g th e torsio n bala n ce t o fin d th e

m ea n d e n sity o f th e e a rth h e wo ul d fin d the ti m e of vibratio n
w ith th e m asses first in th e l i n e o f th e balls an d th e n in a
li n e at righ t a n gles to th at directio n Th ere would be o d . n e

fl e c tio n to be m easur ed We h a ve see n above that Bra n des .

gav e th e th eory o f th i s e x peri m e t I n vestigatio n s o f t h is n .

n at ur e h ave bee n m ad e by R e ic h E O t v O S ( 1 9 2) a n d
B rau n for accou n ts o f wh i ch see th e la t ter part O f this
vol u m e .

A u seful r é su m é o f Cave n dish s paper was give n by Sch m i dt ’

( 6 4
, vol 2 .pp 4 8,
1 He . for m e d a n e w equatio n s f ro m whi ch

to derive th e val u e O f th e de n si ty o f th e earth a n d f ou n d ,

u si n g Cave n dis h s data ’

.

A n other m ath e m ati cal i n vestigatio n o f th e dy n a m ical prob

l e m u n derlyi n g th e C av e n d ish e x peri m e n t w a s m ade by Me n a
brea ( 71 72 an d ,
in 1 8 40 I t is a very e laborate a n alysis of .
“

th e wh ol e proble m H e e x a m i n es th e e ff ect o f th e resis t a n c e

.

o f th e air o n th e ti m e o f vi bratio n a n d also sh ews h ow to fi n d ,

t h e m ass of th e earth supposi n g th a t it i s co m posed O f sph eroid l a

layers Of variable d e n si ty In B a il y s m e m oi r ( 79 ) i s a n oth er .

’

elaborate a n alysis by Airy of t h e m ath e m a tical th eory of t h e

, ,

i n vestigatio n It t reats especially o f Baily s m odificatio n o f

.
’

th e Cave n dish e x peri m e n t ( reprod uced in R ou th s R ig id D y ’

n a m ics 1 8 8 2 pt 1 pp 3 5 9
, .
, .

A el e m e n t a ry tre a t m e t o f t h e proble m i n vol ved is give n by

n n (

Goss e li n an d f ro m t h e for m ula h e arrives at h e derives

th e val u e of t h e m ea n d e n sity o f th e earth as gi ve n by Cave n

d isl s e x peri m e t an d gets A si m ilarly ele m e n tary treat
’
i n ,

m e n t by B a bin e t ( 1 3 2) gives
A n e x celle n t accou n t Of Cave n dish s w ork is give n by Za n otti
’

B i an co ( 1 484) a n d by Poy n ti n g ( 1 8 5 pp 40 8) in th e l a tter is , .

—

to be f ou n d a d iagr a m sh owi n g th e clos e n ess O f C a ve n dis li s ’

separa t e r e sul ts t t h e m ea n o .

106
 THE L A WS O F G RAV ITATIO N

H E NRY C A V E N D I SH so n Of L ord Ch arles Cave n dish an d a

,

n eph e w o f th e t hird D uk e O f D e vo n sh i r e was bor n at N ice in

.

1 73 1 an d died a t L o n do n in 1 8 1 0 He stu died at Ca m bridge

.
,

an d beco m i n g possessed by th e death o f a n u n cle o f a large

, ,

fortu n e h e devot e d h is life u n oste n tatiously to priv a te scie n tific

studies Besid es th e i n vestigati o n o n gravitatio n al attracti o n
.

h ere repri n ted h e i s r e m arkabl e for h is research es in th e fiel d

,

o f ch e m istry a n d has be e n called th e

, N e wto n o f th at sub

j cet He w 0 1 k e d 0 11 th e co n stitue n ts o f th e at m osph er e an d

.

0 11 hyd roge n ; h e m ade th e firs t sy n th esis of water by bu r n i n g

,

hyd roge n in air an d f ou n d th e de n si ty o f h yd roge n to be i h

,

( i n stead o f 1
3 1 )
of th at of ai r H e deter
. m i n ed th e ratio of de

ph logisti cated to ph logisticated air to be a bou t as 1 : 4 Cave n .

dish also m ade m a n y research es of g r e at im p o r tan c e in th e su b

j cet o f el e ctri city ; th ese h ave bee n collected an d edite d by
Clerk Ma x well Perh aps th e m ost i m porta n t o f h is el ectrical
-
.

i n vestigatio n s i s th at w hi ch proved th at electrostati c attractio n

t akes place accord i n g to th e law of th e i n verse squ are O f th e
dist n ce H e i s also th e au th or of sev e ral papers o n a stro n o m i
a .

cal qu estio n s Most of h is writi n gs are to be fo u n d in th e

.

P h ilos op hica l Tr a n saction s o f th e peri od .

1 07
H I S TO R I CAL ACC O U NT OF TH E E K P E R I
M E NT S M AD E S I N C E TH E T I M E
OF CA V E N D I S H
H I S TO R I CAL ACC O U NT OF TH E E K P E R I
M E NT S M AD E S I N C E TH E T I M E
OF CAV E N D I S H

C A R L I N I In 1 8 21 Carl i n i di re ctor o f th e Brera obse rvatory

.
, ,

a t Mila n m ade a seri es o f e x peri m e n ts at th e H ospice o n M t

, .

Ce n is in the Al ps to det e r m i n e th e le n gth of th e s e co ds pe n d

,
n -

ul u m He was l e d t o do so fro m co n sid eri n g th at th e

Alps offered a favou rable sit uati o n for a det e r m i n ati o n o f th e
m ea n de n si ty o f th e earth an d th at n o pe n d ul u m e x peri m e n ts
,

h ad bee n m ade th ere si nce th e publicatio n o f th e ficti ti ou s

o n es of C o u l tau d an d Merci er ( se e p Ca rl i n i co m pare d .

th e ti m e of vi bra tio n of a si m ple pe n d ul u m m ade a f ter th e ,

ge n e ral style of Borda s w i th th at o f a sta n dard clock w h ose

’
,

rate w as n oted daily The h e igh t o f th e observi g statio n was

. n

1 9 43 m e tr e s above sea level in lati t ud e 45 1 4 Th e cor ° ’

-

r e c te d le n gth o f t h e seco n d s pe n d ul u m red uced to sea lev e l

- -

w a s fo u n d to be mm Matth i eu an d Bi ot h ad fou n d
.

th e le n gth o f th e d eci m al s e co d s pe n dul u m at Bord eau x

“ ”
n -

in lat 44 5 0
.
°
to be
’
mm Th e c alculated le n gt h .

at Mt C e n is wo uld be
. m m ; o r f o r th e se x agesi m al .
,

seco d s pe n d ul u m ( 1 00 000 deci m a l seco n ds : 8 6 400 s e xag e s

n -

i m al seco n ds) mm Th e di ffere n ce be twee n th is le n gth

.

an d t h e observed l e n gth i s 2 10 m m wh ich represe n t s the a t

. .
,

tracti o n o i th e m ou n tai n o n th e pe d ul u m n .

The m ou n tai n i s co m pos e d o f sch ist m arble a n d gypsu m o f , ,

specific gravities an d r e spectively C a rli n i took .

th e aver age of al l three as t h e m ea n de n sity o f th e h ill

, .

Assu m i g th a t th e hill was a s e g m e n t o f a sph er 1 geograp h ical

n e

m il e in h e igh t a d h ad a base of 1 1 m il e s i dia m eter th e a t

n n ,

tractio n w as c alc u l a ted t o be wher e 8 is th e specifi c

gravity o f t h e h ill With the sa m e u n its th e attrac t io n o f th e
.

111
 ME MO IRS O N

earth is 1 4 3 94A , W h ere A is th e m ea n de n si ty of t h e eart h .

*

21 0
Wh e n ce
.

_
’ an d A
1 4 3 94A 993 4 9 8.

We ca n n ot place very great co n fid e n ce in th is res ult n o t o n ly ,

o n accou n t o f th e fact th at th e e x tre m e val ue o f th e le n gt h o f

th e seco n ds pe n d ul u m varies fro m th e m ea n by 03 2 111 m an d

-
. .

o n ly 1 3 deter m i n ati o n s were m ade ; b ut especially because th e

size an d de n sity to be assig n ed to t h e m ou n tai n are largely a
m atter o f co n j ectu re .

A r é su m é o f Carli n i s paper was gi ve n by Saig ey ’

an d

by Sch ell E x celle n t acco u n ts of th e e x p eri m e n t wi t h ,

criti cis m s of i t have bee n give n by Za n otti Bia n co ( 1484 pt 2

,
-

, .
,

pp 1 3 6. Poy n ti n g ( 1 85 ; pp 22 4) an d Fresdorf ( 1 86 4 pp .
—
, .

8
Sabi n e ( 5 8 otes p 47) re m ark s that Biot an d Car
an d 82, n ,
.

li n i h ad n o t properly red uced to vacu o th e observed pe n d u l u m ‘

l e n gth s an d states that th e corrected le n gth o f t h e seco n d s

,

pe n d ul u m 0 11 Mt C e n i s i s . in Fro m t h e observatio n s .

m a d e in th e For m e n tera D u n kirk s urvey h e fi n ds by in t e r p o

-

latio n a pe n du l u m le n gt h o f in for t h e lati tu de o f th e .

Hospice Th e d i ff ere n ce betwee n th e o bserved an d calc ulated

.

l e n gth s i s 0 1 6 2 in Th e d iffere n ce cal cu lated fro m t h e i n verse

. .

sq uare l aw i s 023 8 in Wi th Carl i n i s data an d e q uatio n s h e

. .
’

derives for th e val u e o f A .

Sch m i d t ( 6 4 vol 2 p 480 ) gi ves a co n cise acco u n t o f th e

, .
, .

th eory of th e e xperi m e n t an d re m arks that Carli n i m ade an ,

error in d e ter m i n i n g th e attractio n o f a sph erical seg m e n t .

Maki n g th e n ecessary correctio n h e fi n ds A : a resul t

n o t f ar fro m th at of th e Sc h e h al l ie n e x peri m e n t .

In 1 8 40 Gi ulio ( 70) al so gave th e tr ue e x pressio n for t h e at

,

tractio n of a sph erical seg m en t an d n oted th at several q th e r

,

correctio n s m u st be m ad e in Carli n i s calc ulatio n s ; t h e h eigh t ’

o f th e seg m e n t i s m il e s i n stead o f 1 m ile t h e le n gt h o f ,

t h e pe n d ul u m as d eter m i n ed by Biot m us t be correct e d f o r a n

e rror in th e rul e u sed to fin d th e le n gth an d f o r t h e alti tude o f ,

Bordeau x Moreover th e red u cti o n s to vacu o h ad n o t bee n made

.
,

properly in ei th er cas e Wh e n all these c orrectio n s h ad bee n

.

applied to Carli n i s resu l ts Giul io fou n d th e val u e o f A to be

’
,

*
T h is s ig n i fi c at io n of A w il l b e r e t ain e d t h ro u g h o u t t h e rest of th e
vo l um e .

1 12
 TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TA TI O N

Saig e y p 1 55 ) m a kes th e observed pe n du l u m le n gth

( ,
74 .

corrected to vacu o mm an d t h e cal culated le n gth .

,

mm With th ese n u m bers th e val ue o f A beco m es

.

Za n otti Bia n co ( 1 484 pt 2 p 1 3 6 ) m e n tio n s that K n opf

-

,
.
, .

( 1 4 9 4) h as co m pared th e val u o f gravi ty as observed by C a r

e

li n i o n t h e top o f th e m ou n tai n with th e val u e cal cul ated f o r

t h e sa m e place fro m observatio n s m ad e o n th e sa m e parallel o f
l a titud e an d fou n d for A
, ,

A I RY WH E WE L L
,
AN D SH E E P SH A N K S
MINE AT D O LC O A TH .

In 1 826 D r o bis c h in a ap p e d i x t o a pa m ph let 0 11 th e figur e

, ,
n n

o f th e m oo n suggested that e x p e ri m e n ts be m ad e o n th e
cha n ge in th e peri od o f a p e n d ul u m w h e n carried fro m th e s u r
face o f th e e arth to th e bo tto m o f a m um ; h e gav t h e th eory e

of t h e e x peri m e n ts an d c alculated th e ch a n ge resul ti n g f ro m

certai n hypoth eses It i s i n teresti n g t o recall the f act that
.

Baco n proposed the sa m e i n vestigatio n two ce n t u ries earl ier .

S ee p
( .

At th e very sa m e ti m e u n k n ow n to D r o bis c h e x peri m e n ts

, ,

o f this n at ure were bei n g tried in E n gla n d by Ai ry a n d Wh ew

ell a t th e copper m i n e o f D ol c o ath in C or n wall Th eir m e th .

c d w a s to s wi n g o n e i n variabl e pe n d ul u m at t h e m ou th of

th e pi t an d co m p a re i ts rate by Kater s m eth od o f coi n ci de n c e s

,
’
,

with t hat o f a st an dard clock an d at th e s m e ti m e perfor m ,

a

t h e sa m e operatio n u po n a n o th e r pe n d ul u m a n d a n oth er cl ock

at a dept h o f 1 220 f t in th e m i n e Th e p e n d u l u m s were t he n
. .

e x ch a n ged an d t h e opera tio n s repeated T h e greatest d i ffi c ul ty .

e x peri e n ced was th at o f co m pari n g th e rates o f th e two cl ocks .

Th e first series o f e x peri m e n ts was abruptly stopped o n accou n t

o f th e da m age recei ved f ro m fir e by th e low e r p e n d ul u m A .

sh ort accou n t of th e m eth od was p ublish ed in 1 827 an d

D r o b is c h tra n slated i t f o P o g g e n d o r fi s A n n a len wh erei n ’

r

h e gi v e s also a m ore co m plet e acco u n t o f t h e t h eory a d an ap n

p licatio n o f his equatio n s to Airy s obser vatio s Assu m i n g ’

n .

th e m ea n de n sity o f th e su rface l ayer o f th e earth to be

th e e x peri m e n ts gave about 20 for th e val ue o f A D r o b isc h .

co n te n ds th at th e su rface de n si ty sh oul d be ta ke n to b e
co n si deri n g h o w large an a m ou n t o f t h e s u r f ce l yer is w a ter a a .

T wo years later Ai ry an d Wh e well a ssist e d by Mr She e p ,

.

sha n ks an d oth e rs atte m pted to repeat th e e x p e ri m e n t s ; b t

,
u

af ter overco m i g variou s a n o m al i e s i th e m otio n s of th e pe n d

n n

H 1 13
 MEMO IRS O N

u l um s,th e observatio n s were stopped by a fal l o f rock in t h e

m in e T h e val u e o f A f ou d f o m th is series was abou t 6
. n A r .

full accou n t of th e e x peri m e ts was pri n ted priv a tely ( 6 2) in n

1 8 28 an d D r o b isc h tra n slated t h e pa m phlet f o r th e A n n a len

,

R E I C H s F I R ST E X P E R I M E N T . In 1 83 8 , F R ei ch , Professor
’
.

of Physics in th e Berg ak ad e m ie at Frei berg publi sh e d in book ,

for m ( 6 7) t h e a ccou n t o f a s e ries of e x peri m e n ts c arried o n by

h im si n ce 1 83 5 to fin d a f t er th e m eth od of Cave n dish th e
, ,

m ea n d e n sity of th e earth Th e ad opti o n of th e m i rror an d

.

scal e m eth od of m easuri n g deflectio n s see m ed to h im t o pro m

i se a mea n s of overco m i n g m a n y of th e di fficul ties agai n st wh ich
Cave n dish h ad co n te n ded Th e fi n al observati o n s were m ad e
.

in th e year 1 83 7 .

In order to a voi d th e e ffects d u e to irregulariti es o f te m pera

t ure th e apparatu s w as s e t u p in a cellar roo m w hich was c are
,

f ully cl os e d u p a n d th e observati o n s m ade th ro ugh a h ole in

,

t h e door Th e ar m o f th e bal an ce was

. m lo n g a n d i ts .
,

m o m e n t of i n erti a was fou n d after th e m a n n er u sed by Gau ss

for a m ag n et T h e av e rage weigh t of each o f the balls was
.

an d th ei r dista n c e b l ow th e ar m was 77 c m Th ey
g r .
,
e .

were co m posed o f an alloy o f abou t 90 parts t in 1 0 parts bis ,

m u th an d a l ittle l ead
,
Th e attrac t i n g m asses w e re o f l ead
.

4 5 kg in weigh t an d a bou t 20 c m in dia m eter a n d h e n ce

. .
,

m uch s m aller tha n t h ose u sed by Cave n di sh Th ey were su s .

pe n d ed fro m pu lleys ru n n i g o n rail s paral lel to th e ar m o f th e

n

bala n ce an d co ul d be qu i ckly m oved fro m t h e n u ll to th e at

,

tracti n g positio n s O n ly o n e m ass was in th e attra cti n g posi

.

tio n at a ti m e o n accou n t o f th e fact th at in every o n e of th e

,

f ou r attracti n g posi ti o n s th e d ista n ce fro m th e m ass to th e ball

w as sligh tly differe n t ; wh ere a s Cave n dish used both m a sses at
o n ce Th e dista n ce f ro m m a ss to ball was m e asur e d at each
.

observ a ti o n by m ea n s o f a tel escope m ovi n g al o n g a h ori zo n tal

,

scale an d n o t o n ce f o r all as w a s d o n e by C a ve n dish

,
.

After th e s u spe n ded syste m w as s e t up , R e ich f ou n d a c on

tin u al ch a n gi n g of th e zero poi n t whi ch o f t e n l a sted f o r 6 -

m o n th s In h i s fi n a l obs e rv a ti o n s th is w a s n o t n oticeable b e
.

cau se o f th e le n g t h o f ti m e 1 4 years w hi c h i n terve n ed betwee n

, ,

th e i n i tial a n d fi n al e x peri m e n ts Accordi n gly th e seco n d .

m ea n s o f th e elo n gatio n s were fo u n d by h im to be m ore c o n

1 14
 THE L A WS O F G RA V I TA T I O N

sta n t th a n Cave n dish fou n d th e m Th e f ollowi n g table will .

sh ow th is a n d al so ill ustrate R eich s m eth od o f fi n di n g th e

,
’

ti m e o f vibra tio n
T im e of p as s age
E x tr e m e s l s t m e an 2d m e an
at 74 5 at

IV “ 27 “ 30 8
'

27
'
36 . 8 IV .

34 21 . 2 34 29 . 2

41 22 . 4 41 12 . 4

47 59 . 2 48 10 . 8

A v e r ag e o r 3 d m e a n 74 9583 .

T im e o f v ib ra t io n d e t e r m i n e d f r o m p a s s a g e o f
“
IV 4 1
'
“
IV 27 -
'

W 3 13 41 8
47 59 2 34
‘

T im e o f v ib r atio n d e te r m in e d f r o m p as s a g e of

IV“ 41
’ '
—
IV h 27 41 6
“ 13 41 6
.

fi ve
48 1 0 8 34 29 41 6
°

. .

By i n terpo l atio n th e ti m e of a d oubl e vibr a tio n across

is 708 Th is differs so m ewh at f ro m C a ve n dish s m eth o d
. .
’
,

as wil l be se e n by a re f ere ce to page 6 5 R eich co n si d e r e d it

n .

a m ore acc u rat e m eth od th a th a t o f Cave n dish an d re m ark s n ,

th at wh e n h e a pplied th e l a t ter s m eth od to th e above observ a ’

tio n s h e got resul ts n o t very differe n t bu t o n applyi n g hi s o wn ,

m e th od to Cave n dish s observ t i o n s h e got so m e wh at d ifi e r e t

’
a n

res ults R eich s m eth od was ad opted by Baily ( 79 pp 44 a d

.
’
, . n

4 7) in h is e x peri m e n ts .

Wh e n in the a bove way at least th ree passages across th e t wo

m edi an poi n t s h ad bee n observed R eich w a i ted u n til th e ar m ,

w a s in i ts e x t e x tre m e posi tio n an d see m i gly at rest a n d t h e n

n n

r pidly m oved th e attracti n g m ass to i ts n e w positio n I t w s

a . a

al w ays so m oved as to i n crease th e swi n g H e assu m ed th a t .

.

th e m otio n was i n sta n ta n eou s an d used th e las t e x tre m e o f t h e

,

o n e series as th e fi rst o f th e n e x t Baily ( 79 p 46 ) fol lowed .

, .

h im in th i s departur e f ro m t h e proced ure o f Cave n dish Cor n 11 .

an d Baill e ( 1 42) h a ve poi n ted ou t t h at th is m e th od leads to

error an d we sh all r e f e r t t h e m a t t e r ag ai n wh n d escri bi n g

,
o e

th e resul ts obtai ed by B aily ( pag e n Fro m e ach s uch s e t

o f 4 e x tre m es th e resti n g poi t a n d t h e ti m e o f vibr atio n ar e
-

1 15
 ME MO IRS O N

fo u n d Fro m 2 su ch sets th e deviati o n cou l d be f ou n d an d

.
,

th e m ean de n s ity of th e earth c al culated R ei ch di d n o t h ow .

,

ever proceed in th at w ay b u t ded u ced o n e val ue o f A f ro m al l

, ,

th e observatio n s o f each day ; th at i s h e took th e average o f ,

all th e deviatio n s of th at dav for th e fi n al m ea n deviatio n an d ,

th e average o f al l th e ti m es of vi bratio n f o r th e fi n al m ea n ti m e
o f vibratio n a n d fro m th ese ded u ced o n e val u e for th e m ea n
,

de n sity o f th e ear th .

In applyi n g correcti o n s to t h e e q uatio n s derived fro m a si m pl i

fie d for m of t h e th eory o f th e e x peri m e n t R eich followed Cav ,

e n dis h e x actly 5 7 observatio n s w er e m ad e fro m wh ich 1 4 de

.
,

ter m i n atio n s of th e val u e of A were d ed u ced Th e m ean o f all .

,

wh e n correcte d f o r th e ce n trifugal force w as 5 44 i 023 3 a r e , . .

,

su l t al m ost coi n ci di n g wi th C ave n dish s R eich ad m i ts at t h e ’

.

e n d o f hi s paper th at th ere w ere certai n a n o m alies in t h e

m oti o n o f th e bea m wh ich h e coul d n o t accou n t f o r .

A seco n d seri es o f 6 observati o n s with i ro n m asses 3 0 kg in .

weigh t an d 20 c m in dia m eter gave for A

. whi ch proves ,

that n o distu rba n ce coul d h ave arise n fro m m ag n e ti c a ctio n .

Val uable co n cise accou n ts o f R eic h s e x peri m e n t are give n ’

by Beau m o n t Baily ( 6 8 6 9 an d 79 pp 9 6 , Sch el l , .

Poy n ti n g ( 1 85 pp 48 50) an d Fresdorf ( 1 8 6 4 pp 20

, .
—
, .

B A I L Y Wh i le R eic h was m aki n g th e i n vestigati o n s j ust r e

.

ferred to a very co m preh e n si ve an d elaborate series of e xp er i

,

m e n ts u po n al m os t th e sa m e pla n was bei n g carried o n by th e

E n glish as tro n o m er F Baily Th ese e x peri m e n ts were u n der
. .

t ake n at th e i n sta n ce o f th e R oyal Astro n o m ical Societ y an d ,

in aid o f th e m a gra n t o f £ 500 was m ad e by t h e British gover n

men t . Th e resu lts were p ublish ed in 1 843 Th ey were
carrie d o n in o n e o f th e roo m s of Baily s reside n ce a o n e story ’
,
-

h ou se stan di n g d etach ed in a large garde n Th e apparatu s was .

al m ost th e cou n terpart of that o f Cave n dish e x cept th a t th e ,

balls w ere n o t s uspe n de d fro m th e bala n ce a r m b u t w ere ,

screwe d directly o n to i ts e n d s The bala n ce an d i ts m ah oga n y

.

case were m oreover s uspe n de d fro m th e ceili n g an d th e at

, , ,

tracti n g m asses reste d o n t h e e n d s o f a plan k m ovable o n a

pi llar risi n g fro m th e floor As a protectio n agai n st cha nges
.

o f te m pera t u re t h i s apparatu s was th e n s urrou n ded by a wood e n

e n cl osure Th e m asses were o f lead rath er m ore th at 1 2 in in

. .

dia m eter w eig h i n g

,
l bs each Torsio n rods of deal an d
. .

116
 THE L A WS O F GR AV I T AT I O N

of brass each abou t 77 in l o n g w ere e m pl oyed an d th eir

,
.
, ,

m otio n was observed by the m irror an d scale m eth od Balls o f .

di ff ere n t m aterials a n d o f various dia m e ters wer e x peri m e n te d e

u po n :v iz in plati n u m 2 in lead 2 in zi n c 2 in glass

.
,
.
, .
, .
, .
,

2 in i vory
. in lead an d
, in h oll ow brass
. Th e m ode
, . .

o f suspe n sio n was varied greatly both si n gle an d d ou b l e su s ,

p e n sio n w ires bei n g u sed an d t h e m aterial an d dista n c e apart

,

o f th e b ifil a r wires bei n g frequ e n tly c h a n ged Th e le n gth of .

th e su spe n di n g wi res was ordi n arily abou t 6 0 in an d th e ti m e .

,

o f vibratio n varied fro m abou t 1 00 to 5 8 0 seco n ds .

Th e e x peri m e n ts were begu n in O c t 1 83 8 an d carried o n .

,

f o r 1 8 m o n th s u n til abou t 1 3 00 observatio n s h ad bee n m ade ;

,

w h e n o n accou n t o f th e great d iscorda n ce o f t h e res ul ts a

, ,

stop was m ad e Prof Forbes s uggeste d that th ese a n o m alies

. .

m i g h t arise f ro m radiatio n o f h eat a n d advised th e u se of gil t ,

balls a n d a gil t case These ch a n ges w ere m ad e an d the to r

.
,

sio n b o x also li n ed with th ick fla n n el Th ey tu r n ed o ut to be .

deci ded i m prove m e n ts alth ough so m e a n o m alies stil l e x isted

, ,

an d it i s evide n t th at t h e ch oi ce o f a place for setti n g u p th e

apparatu s was n o t a good o n e .

Baily adopted th e m eth od o f R eich f o r red u ci n g th e ti m e r e

q u ired to m ake th e n u m ber o f t ur n i n g poi n ts requisite f o r cal -

c u la tin g t h e d eviati o n an d period ; t hat i s th e m asses were ,

m oved qu ickly fro m o n e n ear positio n to th e oth er an d th e last ,

tu r n i n g poi n t o f o n e series served for t h e fi rst o f th e n e x t

-
.

Th ree n e w tu r n i n g poi n ts w ere observed at each positio n o f th e

-

m asses an d each grou p o f 4 was called an “

e x peri m e n t ”
.
,

21 5 3 su ch e x peri m e n ts w ere m ade d u ri n g th e years 1 8 41 2 —

.

Th e ti m e o f vibrati o n was fo u n d for each e x peri m e n t after th e

m eth od adopted by R eich In d ed u ci n g th e m ea n de n sity o f.

th e earth fro m th e observatio n s Baily proceeded quite d i ff er

e n tly fro m R ei ch Th e re was al ways a sl o w m otio n o f th e zero
.

poi n t an d Baily in order to take a ccou n t o f th is co m bi n ed

, , ,

t h e deflecti o n s an d period s i n th r ees Th e diff e re n ce betwee n .

th e deflectio n o f t h e 2d e x peri m e n t an d th e average o f th e l s t

an d 3 d i s t w ice th e m ea n deviatio n Th e average o f the p eriod .

o f th e 2d e x peri m e n t with t h e average o f th e l s t an d 3 d is the

m e a n period Fro m th e m ean d eviatio n an d m ea n period so

.

fo u n d a val u e o f A is d e d u ced A n ot h er was the n fou n d fro m .

co m pari n g th e 3 d e xperi m e n t with th e 2d a n d 4 th a nd so o n ,

.

Th e m ean o f all th e e xperi m e n ts g a ve f o r A 5 So m e , .

1 17
 M EMO I RS O N

of the e xperi m e n ts were m ad e w i t h th e brass rod al o n e wit h ou t ,

a n y balls th e m ea n res l t for wh i ch was 5 6 6 6 6 1

,
u 0 03 8 3 .

Th e math e m atical a n alysi s (if th e probl e m was give n by

Airy an d is i n corporated in Bai ly s p a per ( 79 pp 99
, it ’
, .

is also to be fou n d in R outh s R ig id D yn a m ics 1 882 pt 1 ’

, , .
,

pp 3 5 9 6 4
.
—
.

Baily p ublish e d a co n d e n sed accou n t of h is work in sev e ral

j our n al s ( 75 76 77 78 an d , , A car e ful discu ssi o n of i t i s
,

gi ve n by Sch el l ( 1 3 5 ) a d by Poy n ti n g ( 1 8 5 pp 52 n ,
.

In 1 842 Sa ig e y ( 74) w rote a f ull accou t o f all th e e xp e r i

,
n

m e n ts m ade before that d a te ; h e gives his reaso n s f o r co n si der

in g th e pe n dul u m m e th o d o f fi n d i n g A t h e l east a ccu rate th e ,

m ou n tai n m eth od so m ewh at better a n d th e t orsio n m eth o d th e ,

best He fi n d s gr e at faul t with th e w ork o f Bai ly an d c o n

.
. ,

si ders th a t hi s resul ts are n o t so wor th y of co n fide n ce as th ose

o f Cave n di sh Sa ig ey co n te n d s th at th e a n o m a li e s observed
.

by Cav e n d ish R ei ch an d B ai ly c an n ot be acco u n t ed for by

, ,
.

r adiatio n o f h eat as Forbes suggested becau se t h e balan ce

, ,

s wi n gs in an e n cl osure all p oi n ts o f wh ich a r e at th e sa m e t e m

p e r a tu r e
( t h u s beggi n g t h e questio n ; h e co n fide n tly r e m arks
)
th at th ese a n o m ali e s ar e cause d by th e passage o f ai r i n to or
o u t o f th e case a s th e baro m etric pressu re cha n g e s Th e valu es .

of A fo u n d by Baily i cr e ased fro m ton as th e de n si ty

o f th e bal ls u sed ch a n ge d fro m to respectiv e ly ; Saig e y
th i n k s th at th i s m u st arise fro m an error in calcu l ati n g th e
m o m e n t of i n ertia o f t h e bala n ce a r m H e devises a graph ical .

m eth od o f m aki n g p roper allowa n ce f o thi s s upposed error r ,

a n d ded u ces as th e fi n al m ea n o f a l l t h e e x peri m e n ts of Baily a

val u e th e e x tre m e s bei n g an d

Sa ig e y m ade a n e w deter m i n atio n o f A ( 74 vo l 1 2 p , .

, .

fro m th e differe n ce 8 6 of th e astro n o m ical an d geod etical

lati tudes o f Evau x a s calc ul ated b y P u iss an t A pplyi n g th e .

m et h od used by H u tto n for Sc h e h al l ie n a n d later by Ja m es ,

a n d Clarke f o r Arth u r s Se at h e fou n d t h e ratio of A to th e

’
,

su rface d e n si ty of Fra n ce to be Ass u m i n g th e l a tter de n

s ity to be th e f or m er beco m es
In 1 847 Hear n tried to accou n t f o r th e a n o m alies in Baily s
’
,

results by ass u m i n g a m ag e tic actio n He worked o u t th e n .

-

th eory ( 8 1 ) o f su c h actio n a d fou n d th at it m us t be o f a very

,
n

flu ctu ti n g n atu r e a d m ay be ei t h er posi tiv e or n egati ve an d

a n ,

eve n grea t er in m ag n i t u de th a n th e f orce o f gravi tati o n Th at .

'

1 18
 THE L A WS O F G R AVI TAT I O N

s uch a m agn etic ac tio n d oes n o t r e ally e x ist is to be deduced

f ro m R ei c h s r e sults wi th i ro n m a ss e s ( s e e p ag e
’

Mo n tig y o ff er e d to th e R oyal Ac a de m y o f Belgiu m in 1 8 52,

n ,

a m e m oir i wh i ch h e a t t rib u ted the peculi ari t i e s i th e be

n n

h avi our o f th e torsio n pe n d ul u m in th e e x peri m e ts of Cave n n

d ish an d o f B ily to t h e rota tio n o f th e earth Schaar

a to .

wh o m th e m e m oi r w as re f e rr e d by th Society proved that th e e ,

rot a tio n of the e arth cou l d n o t prod u ce su ch e ff ects an d th e ,

m e m oir was n o t p ubli shed .

It was Cor n u a d Baill e wh o fi rst poi n ted o u t

n in 1 8 78 ,

th e m ai n e rror in B aily s m eth od It l i e s in h is t aki g th e 4 t h

’
. n

readi n g o f th e t u r n i n g poi n t o f o e series of e x p eri m e n ts as th e

-
n

l s t o f th e n e x t as al ready e x pl ai ed
,
T hey sh ewed th at th e n .

rotati o n o f th e pla n k h ol d i g the m asses coul d n o t b e p e r n o

for m ed rapidly e n ough to g e t th e m asses i n to th e n e w positi o n

be f o re th e ar m had begu n its ret u r n j o u r n ey T hey t h erefore .

rej e cted th e l et o f each series o f 4 readi n gs a n d cal cula t ed A ,

f ro m th e o ther 3 in 1 0 cases take n at ra n do m f ro m so m e o f

B ai ly s m ost di verge n t val u es a n d f o u n d
’
i n ste a d of ,

R ed u ci n g Baily s fi n al va l ue in th e sa m e proportio n th e y g e t
’

A c uri ou s relati o n betwee n d e n sity an d te m peratu re as pre

se n t e d in Bail y s deter m i atio n s was poi n ted o u t by H ick s
’
n

in 1 8 8 6 Th e m e an d e n sity see m s to fal l wi th rise o f

.

t e m peratu r e Th e m ost probabl e e x pla n a tio n o f thi s i s gi ve n

.

by Poy n ti n g ( 1 8 5 p wh o re m arks that th e e xperi m e n ts

, .

wi th th e ligh t b alls happ e n ed to be m ade in wi n te r a d th ose ,

n

with th e h eavy b all s in su m m er Hicks also r e f ers to sev e ra l .

sligh t correc ti o s t o b e m ad e i Ai ry s disc ussio n o f the th e ory

n n
’

viz for th e ai r displace d by th e attracti n g m asses f or th e

.
, ,

i n ert ia o f the air i w hi ch th e balls m ov e a n d f or e x pa n sio n

n ,

w ith cha n ge o f te m pera t u re .

RE I C H SE C O N D E X P E R I M E NT T e n ye a rs a f t e r th e a pp e a r
’
S .

a n ce of B aily s m e m oi r R e ic h p u blish e d ( 8 3 ) a n a ccou n t o f

’
,

so m e f u rt h e r e x peri m e n t s with h is a pp a r a t u s In t h e begi n .

n in g o f hi s paper h e poi n ted ou t tha t B a ily s m e t h od o f c o m

’

bi n i n g the res ults o f th e s e para te e x p ri m e ts was b e tter tha n e n

that u sed by h i m sel f H e proc ee d e d to c a lcul a t e t h e r e sul ts

.

o f h is fi rs t e x p e ri m e n ts by B ily s m e th od a n d f o u n d f o r A t h e
’
a

value 5 49 t 020
. . .

1 19
 ME MO IRS O N

Bei n g i m pressed wi t h th e a n o m alies in Baily s observatio n s ’

,

an d espe cial ly with th e v a ri a ti o n o f th e fi n al res ul ts with th e

d e n sity o f th e bal ls R eich d et er m i n ed to repeat h is e x p e r i

,

m e n ts . His app ar a tus was set u p t h i s ti m e in a seco n d s t ory -

roo m an d Bai ly s d evic e s were e m pl oyed in order to a void t h e

,
’

e ff e cts o f te m perature ch a n ges Th e o n ly i m porta n t ch an ge in

.

th e arran ge m e n t o f th e apparatu s w as in t h e placi n g of th e large .

m ass It was n o w se t in o n e o f fo ur depressio n s 90 apart in a °

.

ci rcu lar table revolvi n g u n der th e bal ance abo u t a vertical a x is

passi n g th ro ugh th e ce n tre of o n e o f th e balls ; th u s n o c o r r e c
t io n was n ecessary for t h e attracti o n o f th e table a n d its sup
ports u po n th e ball Th e bal ls an d m asses were th ose used in
.

th e first e x peri m e n t Th ree series o f e x peri m e n ts were m a de

.

d uri n g th e years 1 847 50 o n e wi th a su spe n di g wire o f th i n

—
,
n

copper o n e wi th th ick copper an d o n e wi th a bifilar i ro n su s

, ,

pe n si o n Th e fi n al m ea n de n si ty o f th e eart h was fo u n d to be
.

In ord er to m ak e a tes t of Hear n s e x pla n ati o n ( see page 1 1 8 )

’

of th e pec ul i a riti e s in Baily s r e sul ts R eich m ad e so m e fu rth e r

’
,

e x peri m e n ts H e kep t th e N orth pole o f a s t ro n g m ag n et n ear

.

t h e attracti n g lead m ass for a wh ol e day a n d th e n su dde n ly ,

rotate d th e m ass th rough 1 8 0 abou t a vertical a x is ; b ut n o °

effect was evide n t H e n ce vari a tio n s in th e resul t are n o t d u e

.

to th e m ag n etizi n g o f t h e m asses by th e eart h o r si m ila r ,

causes H e th e n took o ff t h e tin ball s an d s u b s titu te d s u c c e s s

.

iv e l y balls o f bi s m u t h a n d o f i ro n Th e val ues o f A were r e.

s p e c tiv e ly a d th e large n ess of th e latter de n otes

n

possib l y a d ia m ag n e t i c acti o n o f th e l ead m ass ; b u t i t sh ews

t h at u n der th e origi n al ci rcu m sta n ces n o m easurable e ff ect
co ul d h ave arise n fro m m ag n etic acti o n .

Pro f Forbes h ad su ggested to R ei ch th at A coul d be fou n d

.

fro m th e period o f th e b ala n ce o n ly by n oti n g t h e variati o n o f ,

t h e ti m e o f vibr a t io n w ith th e posi ti o n of th e attracti n g m asses .

R ei ch m ade so m e e x peri m e n ts of thi s n atu re by placi n g t wo

l e ad m asses dia m etrical ly opposi te to eac h oth er first so t h at ,

th e l i n e j oi n i n g th e m was perpe n di cu lar to th e vertical p l a n e

th ro ugh th e torsi o n ar m a n d n e x t was in th e pla n e Thi s
, .

cau sed n o deviatio n b u t o n ly a ch a n ge in th e ti m e o f s wi n g of

,

We d
h av e se e n ( p a g e 1 06 ) th at th is m e th o w as s u g g e s te e ar l ie r in d ,

s P hys ika l z sch e W q

or ter bu ch, a n d th e e uatio n s g iv e n by B r an e s d
‘
’
G eble r
1 20
 TH E L A WS O F GR A V I TAT I O N

th e bala n ce Th e v al u e o f A f ou n d in thi s way was

. bu t
th e apparatu s wa s n o t w e l l d evised for t h e work .

Sever a l abstracts of R eich s p a per are to be fou n d ( 8 4 8 6

’

, ,

8 7 a n d 1 8 5 pp 5 0
,
.

AIRY
’
sH A R T O N C O L L I E RY E X P E R IM E N T We h ave al ready .

r e f e rred to Ai ry s e x peri m e n ts in t h e D o l c oa t h m i n e in 1 8 26 8
’
—
.

In 1 8 5 4 h e agai n u n d ertook to carry o u t i n vestigati o n s ( 1 00 )

,

al o n g th e sa m e li n es th e i n trod uctio n o f th e telegraph h avi n g

,

m ade easy th e co m pariso n of th e cl ocks at the top an d botto m

o f th e m i n e He sel ec ted th e H a rto n C olliery n ear Sou t h
.
,

Sh ield s for th e e x p e ri m e n ts wh ich were carried o u t by six e x

, ,

r ie n c e d assi sta n ts of wh o m Mr D u n ki n was th e ch ief Th e

p e . .

two stati o n s were ve rtically above each oth er an d 1 25 6 f t _apart . .

Th e apparatu s was th e best obtai n able an d special precau tio n s ,

were take n in order th a t th e pe n d u l u m supports m igh t be rigid .

Si m u lta n eo u s observati o n s o f th e tw o pe n d ul u m s were kept

u p n igh t an d day for a week ; th e n th e pe n d ul u m s w ere e x
ch an ged an d obs e rvati o n s take n for a n oth er week Tw o m ore .

e x ch a n ges were m ade bu t th e observati o n s f o r th e m both w ere

,

m ad e in o n e week E ach pe n d ul u m h ad s ix swi n gs o f n early

.

4 h o u rs each o n every day of observatio n a n d betwee n su ccess ,

i ve swi n gs th e clock rat e s were co m pared by telegraph i c sig n al s

give n every 1 5 seco n d s by a j ou r n ey m a n cloc k .

Th e correctio n s an d red u cti o n s were carried ou t by Airy in a

very elabora te m a n n er Th e res ul ts o f th e 1 s t an d 3 d series
.

agree very cl osely as d o th ose o f th e 2d a n d 4th sh owi n g t h at

, ,

th e pe n d ul u m s had u n dergo n e n o se n sible ch a n ge By c o m .

pari n g th e m ea n o f th e 1 s t an d 3 d series wi th th e m ea n o f th e
2d an d 4 th th e ra t i o o f th e pe n d ul u m rates at th e u pper an d
,

lower statio n s is obtai n ed i n d epe de n tly o f th e pe n d ulu m s e m

n

ployed Th e fi n a l resu l t ga v e g ravi ty at th e l ower statio n

.

greater tha n grav ity at th e upper by th part wi t h an u n

I
l , 28 6 ,

certai n ty o f 4 4 th p a r t o f th e i n crease o r th e acceleratio n o f

4

th e seco n ds p e n d ul u m bel ow i s
-
per day wi th an u n c e r ,

tai n ty of less tha n

In order to cal culate wh at thi s di ffere n ce sh oul d be suppose ,

th e earth to be a sph ere o f radi us r an d m ea n de n si ty A s ur ,

rou n ded by a sph erical s h el l of th i ck n ess 77 an d d e n si ty 5 the n .

,

gravi ty bel ow 271 3718

a si m ple a n alysis sh ews t h at ( com
gravity above T rA

1 21
 ME MO IRS O N

pare p . Airy gives a di sc ussi o n of th e effect of su r f ace i r

regularities it is shew n th at supposi n g th e su r f ace o f t h e earth
,

n ear th e m i n e t o h ave n o ii r e g u l a r itie s the effect o f th ose at dis

‘

ta n t parts of th e e a rth m ay be n eglec ted H e al so ass u m es th at .

t h ere is n o sudde n ch a n ge o f de n si ty j u st u n der th e m i n e He .

p 1 oves th at th e e ff ect o f a n o f 3 m iles in radi us an d o f th e

pla e
t hi ck n e ss o f t h e sh ll i s 4 4 o f that o f the wh ol e sh ell so th a t
2 3
,
‘

o n ly th e n e igh bou ri n g co u n try n eed be s u 1 v e ye d Si n c e t h e .

upp e r statio n is o n ly 74 ft above h igh water i t wi ll be su ffi cie n t

.
,

to assu m e th at an y e x cess o r defect o f m a tter e x ists actually o n

th e s u rface A care f ul s urvey of th e e n vi ro n s of th e m i n e was
.

m ade an d al lowa n ce m ade for eac h elev a tio n an d d ep ressio n

,
.

Th e ge n eral res ul t is that th e attractio n of th e regul ar sh ell o f

gravi ty below
m atter Is t o be d1 m 1n 1 s h e d by abo u t 4 4 th part
gravity above 6

8
N o w fro m th e pe n d ul u m e x

gravi ty ab o v
h e n ce Prof W H Miller fou n d th e aver
. . .

8
age de n sity o f th e rocks in t h e m i n e to be h e n ce A : 6 56 6 .

t . 0 1 82 .

Airy h ad i n te n d ed th at th e te m peratu res at th e two stati o n s

sh oul d be th e sa m e bu t th e te m peratu re o f th e l ow e r stati o n
,

was F h igh er tha n th at o f th e u pper In a su pple m e n t

. .

ary p a per ( 1 01 ) Ai ry m akes a correcti o n for th is t e m perat u re

d i ff e re c e in t w o di sti n ct ways givi n g f o r th e corrected A
n , ,

an d respective l y In th is paper Stokes ( 1 02) i v e stig a t e s

. n

th e effect o f th e earth s rotati o n an d ellipti ci ty in m odifyi n g

’

th e results of th e H a rto n e x peri m e n ts It was fou n d to be .

s m all ch a n gi n g A f ro m 6 5 6 6 to 6 56 5
,
. . .

Airy p ublish ed sev e ral prel i m i n ary n oti ces of hi s wo 1 k ( 88 8 9 ,

an d abstracts o f wh ich ap p eai e d in several j ou r als ( 90 n ,

9 1 9 2 9 8 an d
, ,
Val u able I é s u m é s of th e m ai n pap e r a r e
also to be fou n d ( 1 05 1 0 7 1 09 1 1 2 an d
, , ,

Haugh to n ( 1 06 1 1 0 1 1 3 an d 1 1 6 ) gave a rough bu t si m pl e

, ,

m eth od of d ed u ci n g A fro m Ai ry s figu res an d arri ed a t

’
,
v

as t h e v alu e o f A K n opf ( 1494) h as severely cri t ici zed this

.

calcul tio n A n oth er si m ple for m u l a for th e sa m e pu rpose

a .

w as gi ve n by a n a n o n y m ou s w riter O n th e e fl e c t o f
’

1 22
 THE L A WS O F G R AV I TAT I O N

great ch an ges in de n si ty be l ow th e u n der statio n o n e sh oul d read

th e paper by Jacob ( 1 1 8 a n d 1 21 ) already referred to Sch e f .

fl e r ( 1 3 4 ) publ ish ed in 1 8 6 5 th ough it i s dated 1 8 5 6 th e pro , ,

posal o f a n x peri m e n t si m ilar to A i ry s bu t m ad e n o r f e re n ce

“

e
’
, e

to an y e a rli e r p ropos als of th e sa m e ki n d Fol i e ( 1 3 6 ) cal c ul .

ated in 1 8 72 th e attrac t io n at th e t wo stati o n s i

, ,
m a n n er n a

d i ff ere n t f ro m Ai ry s by co n sideri n g th e sh e l l as m ade up o f 2

’
,

p a rts U si n g Ai ry s data h e arrived at

. as th e val u e of A
’
.

Val uabl e s u m m a ries an d criti cis m s o f Airy s work ar e give ’

n

by Sch ell Za n otti Bi an co ( 1 484 pt 2 pp 1 46 Poy n t -

, .
, .

in g ( 1 8 5 pp 24 9) an d Fresdorf ( 1 8 6 4 pp 1 3
,
.
—
, .

J A M E S A N D C L A R K E As a resu l t o f th e cal culatio n s m ad e .

fro m t h e obs e rv tio n s take n for th e O rd n an ce Su rvey of Great

a

Britai n a n d Irela n d ( 1 04 1 1 7 1 20 1 24 1 25 an d 1 26 ) by Lt , , , , .

Col J m es i t w as f o u n d th at th e pl u m b l i n e was co n siderably

. a ,
-

d eflected a t severa l o f th e pri n cipal trigo n o m etrical stati o n s .

It was evide n t fro m th e atu re o f th e grou n d at th e places n

u d er co n sid e ra ti o n th t this d e flecti o n was d ue to ir r e g u l ar i

n ,
a

ti e s o f th e su r fa ce In order to stu dy thi s actio n m or e car e

.

f ully Ja m e s d e cided to have th e Sc h e h al lie n e x peri m e n t r e

'

e a te d a t Arth ur s Seat n ear E di bu rgh n d 1 25 pp 5 72

(
’

p 1 0 3 a ,
n , .

Th e observatio n s were m a de d u ri n g Sept an d O c t . .

,

1 8 5 5 w i t h Ai ry s ze n i th sector o n th e su m m i t o f Arth u r s
’ ’
-

, ,

Seat ( A ) an d a t poi n ts n ear th e m eridia n on th e n orth ( N )

,

an d so u th ( S) o f th at m o u n tai n at abou t o n e t h ird o f its al ,

-

titu de above th e surro u n di n g co u n try After correctio n s h ad .

bee n applied th e resu l t s were a s f ol lows

,

A s t r o n o m ic al l at E A . Geo d e t ic al l at : G.

° ' ° "
55 56 55 56
5 6 43 . 69 56 3 8 . 44
57 9 . 22 57 2 . 71

It will be n oti ced th at eve n o n t h e su m m i t of th e h ill th ere

is an a ttr a ctio n of m or e th an 5 tow d th e sou th wh ich c an ”
ar ,

n o t be d u e to th e h ill Si m ilarly t o th e so u th of th e h il l th e
.
,

a t t r a cti o n i s n o t t ow a rd th e n or t h a we m igh t e x pect It is s .

e vi de n t th at th ere is prese n t so m e oth e r a t t r a cti n g force be ,

sid es th at of Arth u r s Se at whi ch pp e ars to prod u ce a ge n eral

’
, a

d eflecti o n o f 5 t ow a rd th e sou th ”
.

1 23
 ME MO IRS O N

Capt Clarke wh o m ade all th e calcu latio n s in order to fin d

.
, ,

t h e a t tractio n accordi n g to N ewto n s law u sed a m odificati o n of ’

,

t h e m eth o d o f H u tto n He too k acco u n t o f al l t h e sur f ace

.
,

i rregularities wi thi n a rad i us o f abou t 24000 f t Th e resulti n g .

val u e for th e ratio of th e d e n si ty o f th e rock co m posi n g th e h il l

to that o f th e wh ole earth was 5 l 73 i 005 3 Ja m e s i n vesti . . .

gate d th e de n si ty o f th e rocks of Arth u r s Seat an d fou n d it ’

t o be o n th e average This gi ves for A the val ue

In ord er to see wh eth er th e ge n era l deflectio n o f 5 could be .

accou n te d f or by th e prese n ce o f th e h ollo w of th e R iver Fort h

to th e n orth an d th e h igh lan d o f th e Pe n tla n d Hills to th e
south C lark e e x te n ded th e cal culated attracti o n to t h e bord ers
,

o f E di n b urgh sh ire so m e 1 3 m iles away

, H e was able in thi s .

way to accou n t for a ge n eral deflectio n of a n d h e th ough t

th at by carryi n g t h e cal culati o n s to Peeblesshi re th e wh ole 5

m igh t be accou n ted for .

Several abstracts o f th e origi n al paper h ave DB D p ublish ed L

( 1 0 8
,
1 1 5 an d Poy n ti n g
( 1 8 5 pp 1 9 22 ) h as gi ve n,a .
—

val u able criti ci s m o f th e work .

In co n n ectio n with this i n vestigatio n m igh t be m e n ti o n ed

th e variou s w ri ti n gs o n t h e su bj ect o f l ocal attra c t io n s A n y .

o n e wi s h i n g to beco m e acq u ai n te d with th is subj ect sh oul d read

Ai ry s accou n t o f h is flotati o n th eory ( 94 an d

’ “
Faye s ” ’

accou n t of h is co m pe n sati o n th eory

“
an d

Pratt s papers ( 93 9 6 an d
’
, Saig e y Stru ve Pech
m an n th e treati ses o f Pratt Clark e ( 1 49 ) a n d Hel
m ert ( 1 48 v ol ,
Ma n y oth er refere n ces to pap e rs by th ese
.

m e n as well as by Sch ubert Peters Keller Bau e r n f e i n d an d

, , ,

oth ers are to be fou n d in th e R y So c Cat o f Sci e n ti fic papers

o . . .

an d in Gore s A Bibli ography o f Geod e sy Se e also

’

n ote o n page 3 1 an d re m arks o n page 5 6 We m igh t h ere r e .

call th e determ i n atio n o f A by Saig ey fro m l ocal attractio n ( see “

p age Pe c h m a n n ( 1 3 1 ) in th e sa m e w ay fou n d in th e Tyrol ,

in 1 8 6 4 t wo d i ff ere n t val u es for A 6 1 3 1 1 i 1 5 5 7 an d 6 3 5 2 t

, , . . .

726 h avi n g assu m ed t h e d e n si ty of th e earth s cru st to be

’
.
,

We shal l refer later on to th e deter m i n ati o n s of M e n

de n h all an d Berget .

C O RN U A N D B A I L L E In 1 8 73 C or u an d Baille p ublish ed
.
,
n

a sh or t paper ( 1 3 7) stati n g th at they h ad u n dertake n to r e p e at

1 24
 THE L AWS O F G R AV I TAT I O N

th e Cave n d ish e x peri m e n t u n der co n diti o n s as difl e r e n t as pos

sible f ro m t h ose previou sly e m pl oyed Th ey bega n by m aki n g .

a thoro u g h stu dy o f th e t orsio n bala n ce in order to lear n u n der

-

w hat co n ditio n s i t wo ul d h ave th e greatest precisio n an d se n si

t iv e n e ss Th ey fou n d a m o n g other th i n gs that th e resista n ce of
.

th e ai r w as proportio n al to th e veloci ty ( 141 1 42 1 43 an d , ,

T h e app a ratus was set u p in t h e cellar o f th e E cole Po lyte c h

n ique T h e ar m of the bala n ce was a s m al l al u m i n i u m tube
.

5 0 c m lo n g carryi n g o n each e n d a copper ball 1 09 gr in

.
, .

weigh t Th e s uspe n sio n wire was o f a n n ealed silver

. m .

lo n g an d th e ti m e o f vibratio n o f th e syste m 6
, Th e a t ’

trac t i n g m ass was m ercu ry w hi c h coul d be aspi rated fro m o n e

sp h erical iro n v essel o n o n e si de o f o n e o f th e copper bal ls to
a n oth er vessel si m ilarly situated o n th e ot h er si de of th e ball .

Th is m eth od got r id o f th e disturba n ces arisi n g fro m t h e m ove

m e n t o f th e lea d m asses in th e Cave n dis h for m o f th e e xp e r i
m en t . T h e iro n vessel was 1 2 c m in dia m eter a n d t h e m e r
.

cu ry weigh e d 1 2 kg A n oth er great i m prove m e n t was th e

.

red uctio n o f t h e di m e n sio n s o f th e apparatu s to 4 o f t h at used

by Cave n dish R ei ch an d Bai ly th e ti m e o f oscillati o an d th e
, , n

se n sitive n ess re m ai n i n g t h e sa m e Th e m o t io n o f the ar m was

.

registered electrically .

T wo series o f observatio n s were m ade ; o n e in th e s u m m er

o f 1 8 72 gave A an d th e ot h er in th e followi n g wi n ter

Th e d iffere n ce w as e x plai n ed by a fl e x u r e o f th e t orsi o n .

rod an d th e for m er resul t was co n si dered th e better

,
.

In a later report ( 142) th ey refer to so m e ch a n ges m ade in

th ei r appara tu s th ey i n creased th e force o f attractio n by usi n g
4 i ro n rec e ivers 2 o n eac h side o f each copper ball an d th ey
, ,

r e d u ced th e dista n ce betwee n th e attracti n g bodies in t h e ratio

o f V2 to 1 Th e ti m e of v ibratio n
. re m ai n ed th e sa m e
,

with i n a few te n th s of a seco n d for m ore than a year Th e n e w .

v al ue of A was

We h ave al ready referred ( page 1 1 9 ) to th e fact th at C or n u

a n d Bai lle fou n d o u t th e error in th e Baily e x peri m e n ts .

A fi n al acco u n t o f t h ese e x peri m e n ts h as n o t yet bee n pub

l is h e d Abstracts o f th e papers ci ted are give n by Poy n ti n g
.

pp n d by severa l j o ur n als ( 1 3 8 a n d
( 1 8 5 , 5 7 8 ) a .
—

JO L L Y In 1 8 78 , v o n Jolly o f
. M u n ich p ublis h e d an acco un t
( 1 44 an d 1 45
) o f th e resu l ts of his st u dy of t h e bea m balan ce
125
 ME MO IRS O N

as an i n stru m e n t f o r m easuri n g gravi tati o n al attractio n s He .

discussed th e sou rces o f e rror in th e bala n c e readi n gs a n d .

m eth ods of el i m i n ati n g the m Th e variati o n s d ue to te m pera.

t u r e e ff ects are very difficul t to avoi d b ut by w orki n g in t h e ,

m or n i n gs o n ly an d by coveri n g t h e bala n ce case wi t h a n oth e r

,

l i n ed i n side an d ou t wi t h silver paper i t was fo un d to be pos ,

sible to get qu i te co n cord a n t results .

Jolly appl ied t h e bala n ce to test t h e N e wto n ia n la w of th e

d ista n ce T wo e x tra scale pan s were s u spe n ded by wires fro m
.

t h e ord i n ary scale pa n s o f th e bala n ce an d m belo w th e m . .

The wi res an d l ower scal e pa n s were e n cl osed to preve n t oscilla

ti o n s fro m air cu rre n ts T wo kilogra m m e m ass e s o f p olished
.

n ickel plated brass were bala n ced agai n st each oth er

-
first both ,

in the u pper scal e pa n s an d th e n o n e in t h e u pper a n d th e

,

other in th e l ower p an in each c a se do u bl e weighi n gs bei n g m ad e

,

after th e m a n n er of Gau ss Th e m otio n o f th e bea m was n oted

.

by the m irror an d scale m eth od th e m irror bei n g fi x ed at th e ,

m i ddle of th e bea m a n d perpe n dic u lar to its le n gth If 7 is th e .

'

radi us of th e eart h at sea level an d h a h eig h t above i t th e n a

-

, ,

m ass Q at sea level weigh s

,
-

Q2 at h, where s Ql a
p

Q2 1 0 00 coo
Q1 1 000 000
1 000 000
w h ereas t h e e q u a t1 o n g 1 v Th e dl ff e r
1 000 000

e n ce 1 52 m g Jolly th o ug h t was d ue to local attractio n s He

, . .
, , .

proposed to repeat th e e x peri m e n t at th e top o f a h igh tower ,

an d at t h e sa m e ti m e to fin d th e m ass o f t he earth by n oti n g

th e ch an ge in weigh t o f on e o f t h e m ass es in t h e bala n ce w he n

a large lea d ball was bro u g h t be n eath it .

Th e r esults of th ese e x peri m e n ts ( 1 53 an d 1 54) were p u blis h ed

in 1 88 1 Th e distan ce betwee n t h e scal e pan s was n o w
.

m . T h e ar m o f the balan ce was 6 0 c m lo n g an d th e m a x i .

,

m u m loa d 5 kg Fo u r h ollo w glass sp h eres of t h e sa m e size

.

were m ad e an d in eac h of tw o 5 kg of m ercury w ere p u t .

,

a n d all were sealed u p E ach scale p an had al ways o n e sph ere

.

in i t an d t h u s air correcti o n s were avoi ded

,
A n observ a tio n .

was m ade as follows first th e m ercu ry fil l e d sph eres w ere bal -

a n c e d in th e upper pa n s an d th e n o n e in t h e u pp e r p an was
,

bala n ced agai n st th e oth er in th e lower Th e ch an ge in weigh t .

1 26
 T HE L A WS O F G RA V ITATIO N

observe d was 3 1 6 86 m g w h e r eas the cha n ge as calculated

'

. .

fro m t h e for m ula sh o ul d h ave bee n mg Th e differ .

e n ce i s in th e sa m e directio n as in th e earlier e x peri m e n t .

A sph ere o f radi u s 49 75 m an d weigh t . kg was th e n. .

b ui lt u p o u t o f lead bars u n der th e l ower scal e p an w h ich

received th e m erc ury fill e d globe Th e dista n ce fro m th e
-
.

ce n tre o f th is sph ere to that of th e globe was th e n 56 86 m . .

Th e attracti o n o f t h e sph ere for th e m ercu ry fill e d globe wh e n -

in th e upper p an was n eglected .

O bservatio n s were m ad e e x actly as before a d t h e ch a n ge in ,

n

weigh t was mg Th e i n crease in w e igh t d ue t o th e

.

prese n ce o f th e l ead i s t h ere f ore 5 8 9 m g K n o wi n g th e d e n . .

s it
y o f t h e lead to be 3 si m ple calculati o n gives for th e

m ea n de n sity o f th e e arth 5 6 9 2 i 0 6 8 . . .

A n accou n t o f th ese e xperi m e n ts is gi ve n by Hel m ert ( 1 48 ,

v ol. 2 pp 3 8 0
, . Zan otti Bia n co ( 1 484 vol 2 pp 1 75 -

, .
, .

Wa ll e n t in Keller Poy n ti n g ( 1 8 5 pp 6 1 4) an d , .
—

Fresdorf ( 1 8 6 4 pp 23 , .

M E N D E N H A LL In 1 880 Pr of T C Me n de n hall describe d

.
, . . .

( 1 50 ) a m eth od of fi n di n g th e peri od of a pe n d u lu m su ch that

a d eter m i n atio n requi red 20 or 3 0 m i n u tes o n ly At th e begi n .

n i n g an d e n d o f thi s t i m e t h e pe n d ul u m t h rows a ligh t tri p

ha m m er o f wire w hich breaks a ci rcu i t a n d m akes a reco rd o n

a ch ro n ograph o n wh ich a break circ u it clock is also m arki n g -
.

Th e ad va n tage of s u c h an arra n ge m e n t in additio n t o th e ,

sh ort ti m e requi red i s th at th e arc o f vibratio n m ay be s m all

,

an d will cha n ge very little Me n de n hall e xpressed a deter

.

m i n atio n to fin d th e variati o n o f th e acceleratio n d u e to gravity

o n goi n g fro m Toki o t o th e top o f Mou n t F uj iya m a .

A year later th e resul ts of th ese e x peri m e n ts were p ublish ed

h avi n g bee n m ade in Aug 1 880 A n i n variable pe n d .
, .

ul u m was used m ad e fro m a Kater s pe n d ul u m by re m ovi n g

,
’

o n e bal l an d k n i f e edge Its period at Tok io ( baro m eter 3 0 in

-
. .

an d te m per a tur e C ) was 99983 4 sec O n th e t op o f

. . .

F uj iya m a the baro m eter stood n early statio n ary at in .

d u ri n g th e observatio n s an d th e th er m o m ete r a t, After

appro x i m ate correctio n s were m ade f o r bu oya n cy th e ti m e , ,

red u ced to Toki o co n ditio n s was sec Assu m i n g g at

, .

Acc o rd i g t H l m t th i h l d b
n o e er d c d i g t Z t ti
s s ou e an ac o r n o an o

Bi c
an o

1 27
 MEMO IRS O N

T oki o to be as h e h ad fo u n d in t h e previ o u s year i t f ol ,

l ows t h at at th e su m m it o f Fujiyam a i t i s
N o e x act tria n gulatio n of th e regio n h a d bee n m ade b u t ,

Me n de n hall assu m ed F uj iya m a t o be a co n e m iles hig h

sta n di n g o n a p l ai n o f co n sid erable e x te n t Th e a n gl e o f th e .

co n e was m easured fro m ph otograp h s an d fou n d to be

F uj iya m a i s an e x ti n ct vol ca n o sai d t o h ave bee n m ade in a
,

si gl e n igh t an d h e n ce i ts co m positi o n ough t to be h o m oge n e

n ,

ous . Its average d e n si ty was take n as b u t n o grea t r e

l ian c e c an be pl aced o n th i s n u m ber C orrected for th e difl e r
.

e n ce in latitu de betwee n Toki o an d Fuj iya m a t h e ti m e at

, ,

i ts b a se supposi n g th e h ill take n away wo ul d be 9 99847 sec

, , . .

Th e de n si t y of th e earth cal culated fro m these data after t h e

,

m a n n er of Carli n i was fou n d t o be 5 77

,
. .

Fresdorf ( 1 8 6 4 pp 1 1 1 3 ) d escribes fully th e e xperi m e n ts

, .

an d poi n ts o u t an m m in Me n de n h al l s cal c ulatio n s t h e cor

’
,

r e c te d val u e f o r A i s Poy n ti n g ( 1 85 pp 3 9 40) gives ,

.
—

an abstract o f th e papers referred to .

ST E RN E C K Maj or v o n Ster n eck h as m ad e several i n vestiga

.

ti o n s o f th evariatio n o f gravit y be n eath th e earth s surface ’

.

T h e earl iest e x peri m e n ts ( 1 55 ) w ere m ade in 1 8 82 in th e , ,

Adalbert sh aft o f th e silver m i n e at Pf ibr am in Boh em ia Th e .

m eth od e m pl oyed was to carry an i n variabl e h alf seco n d pe n d -

ul u m an d a co m pariso n cl ock fro m o n e statio n to a n oth er a n d ,

fin d th e perio d by th e m eth od o f coi n cide n ces th e clock bei n g ,

co m pare d with a sta n dard cl ock by carryi n g a pocket ch ro n

o m e te r fro m o n e to th e oth er Th e pe n d ul u m o f brass was
.
, ,

a r o d 24 c m in le n gth carryi n g a l e n s sh ap e d bob w eigh i n g 1

.
~

kg T h e k n ife was o f steel wh ose edge was s o cu t away t h at

.

it rested o n a glass plate o n t w o poi n ts o n ly Th e apparatu s .

was al ways e n close d in a glass c a se to preve n t ai r cu rre n ts .

T h e 3 station s at wh ich observati o n s w e re m ade were at th e

su rf ace ,
m an d . m bel ow th e su rface r e spectively
. .

Th e resp e ctive periods at th ese statio n s were 5008550 500841 0 .

an d 5 00841 5 seco n ds an d t h e resul ti n g v al u es o f A fou n d

. , ,

f ro m Ai ry s f or m u l a were an d th e de n si ty o f th e
’
,

s u rface layer bei g take n as n I t wil l be n oticed that th e

val ues of g at th e two u n dergrou n d statio n s are practically th e .

sa m e an d th e results are u n satisfactory

,
.

A year later ( 1 5 6 ) v on Ste r n eck r epeat e d h is e x peri m e n ts at

128
 TH E L A WS O F G RA V I T A TI O N
th e sa m e statio n s an d at two additio n al o n es In order th at .

h is observatio n s m igh t b e i n depe n de n t of th e rates o f th e clocks

u sed in fi n di n g t h e p e riod s St er n eck i n trod uced an i m porta n t
,

m odifica t io n o f th e m eth od adopte d by Airy a n d by h i m self in

h is earlier i n vestigati o n s He m ad e a n o th e r pe n d ul u m si m i l ar
.

to th e o n e described above ; o n e o f th ese was al ways at th e

s urface statio n an d th e other at o n e o f th e u n dergro u n d sta
tio n s an d their relative periods w ere co m pared by m ean s o f
,

electric sign als se n t si m ul ta n eou sly fro m a si n gle clock Th is .

cl ock kept a circu it cl ose d f o r h al f a seco n d e very oth er h alf

seco n d an d operated a relay with a stro n g c urre n t at each sta
tio n Th e passage o f th e tai l of th e pe n d ul u m in f ro n t o f
.
”

a scale was observed by m ea n s of a telescope in t he focal plan e ,

o f wh ich was a sh ut t er m oved by th e re l ay curre n t every h alf

s e co n d an d at th ose i n sta n ts o n ly was th e pi cture of t h e tai l

,

o f th e p e n d ul u m a l lowe d to pass to th e eye through th e t ele

scope Th e ti m e of a coi n cide n ce was wh e n at o n e of th ese

.

flash es th e tai l appeared e x act l y at th e m id dl e o f th e scal e th e

ti m e betwee n two su ccessive coi n ci de n ces deter m i n es th e peri od
o f th e pe n d ul u m Th e observer at eac h of the two statio n s is
.

th us fi n di n g th e period of h is pe n d ul u m in ter m s of e x actly th e

s a m e u n i t o f ti m e Wh e n th e observatio n s were corrected i t
.
,

w a s fou n d that th e period at th e h igh es t u n dergrou n d stati o n

was less th a n t h at at t h e n e x t lower statio n an d th e de te r m in ,

ati o n at the for m er stati o n was co n seque n tly n ot u sed Th e .

Val ues of A as deter m i n ed fro m observatio n s at t h e oth er sta

tio n s were an d with a m ea n o f Hel m ert
v ol 2 p 499 ) h as m ade a recalc u la t i o n an d fi n ds t hat
( 1 48 , .
, .

these n u m bers sh oul d be an d respecti vely .

V o n St e r n e c k u se d h i s resul ts at th e surface an d at t h ese

'

u n dergrou n d station s to e x press 9 as a fu n ctio n of th e depth .

Cal li n g th e val ue of g at th e s urface u n i ty an d m easuri n g 7 ,

'

fro m th e c e n tre o f th e earth a n d calli n g it equa l to u n ity at

‘

th e su rface b e ded uced the followi n g e x pressio n for th e val u e

,

o f g at an y depth
"
r r .

Thi s woul d m ake 9 a m a x i m u m at r : 78 The de n si ty

, . .

would be e x pressed by th e f or m ula d : 1 5 1 3 6 gi v i n g .

for i ts val ue at th e ce n tre of t h e earth an d at th e ,

surface Th ese relatio n s are at least s uggestive if n o t c on

.

v in c in g .

I 1 29
 ME MO I RS O N

D u ri n g t h e year 1 883 v on Ster n eck used th e sa m e m eth o d

an d apparatu s to deter m i n e th e variatio n in gravi t y for 3 sta

tio n s ab ove th e earth s s u r f ace at Kr o n stadt He fou n d ( 1 58)

’
.

gravi ty grea t er at a h igh er poi n t ( Sch lossberg) t h a n at a l ow e r

( Z wi n ger ) an d proved that n ei th er the for m ula of Y o u n g ( see
,

page 3 1 ) n or that of Faye an d Ferrel for t h e red u ctio n to sea

le vel gave satisfactory resu lts .

T wice in th is year Ster n eck m ade i n vestigatio n s at Kru sn a

h ora in Boh e m ia Here th ere was a m i n e with a h orizo n tal
.

g allery 1 000 m lo n g an d h e wi sh e d to fin d th e c fl e c t of th e
.
,

overlyi n g sh eet o f earth u po n th e val ue of gravi ty at variou s

poi n ts in th e gallery Th e sa m e apparat us was use d after so m e
.

i m prove m e n t s h ad bee n m ad e O bservati o n s were take n at th e

.

m i n e m o uth a n d at poi n ts 3 90 an d 78 0 m fro m th e m o u th an d .

,

6 2 a n d 1 00 m respectively belo w th e su rface o f th e grou n d

. .

T h e results shewed that gravity in th e plateau i n creased wi t h

th e dept h of th e super i n cu m be n t layer by th e half o f th e
-

a m ou n t by wh ich i t w o ul d h ave ch a n ged in free space wh e n

the dista n ce fro m th e ce n tre o f th e earth was ch a n g e d by th e
sa m e a m ou n t O bserva t io n s w ere m a de at 4 statio n s above
.

grou n d also at d i ff ere n t elevatio n s a n d i t was fou n d t h at th e

,

F aye Ferrel rul e accou ted f o r th e differe n ces betwee n th e m

-
n

m u ch better th a n di d th e Bo u gu er Yo u n g r u l e -
.

F urth er e x peri m e n ts ( 1 6 4) were m ade in 1 884 at Sagh egy , ,

in H u n gary an d elsewh ere w it h res ul ts si m ilar t o th ose de

, ,

scribed above A n i m porta n t i m prove m e t was m ade in th e

. n

m eth od o f observi n g the coi n cid e n ces Th ey were n o w ob .

serve d by th e reflectio n s of an elec t ric spark fro m two m i rrors ,

o n e fi x ed o n th e pe n du l u m sta n d an d t h e oth er attach ed to

,

th e pe n du l u m an d wh e n at rest parallel to th e fi rst T h e spark .

was m ade by th e relay circu i t every h alf seco n d .

In 1 88 5 Ster n eck m ade a series o f observatio n s ( 1 6 5 ) at th e

,

m o u th an d at 4 u n dergrou n d s tatio n s i th e Hi m m elfah rt n

F u n dgrube silver m i n e at F reiberg in Sa x o n y He was l e d to .

do so by th e publi ca t io n o f th e resul ts o f so m e pe n d ul u m m eas

u r e m e n t s m a de there in 1 8 71 by D r C Bruh n s wh o had fo u n d
, ,
. .
,

that gravi ty decreased with th e d epth U si n g Airy s for m ula .

’
,

v o n Ster n eck fou n d th e followi n g val ues for A at the 4 u n d er

grou n d statio n s in t h e ord er of th eir d e pt h :

an d th e d e n sity o f th e m i e strata bei n g
n Th ese r e
s u l t s i n dicate a n ab n or m al i n crease o f gravi ty with depth V on .

130
 TH E L A WS O F G RA V I TA T I O N

Ster n eck oti ce d th at in th ese e x peri m e n ts as wel l as in th ose

n ,

m ade a t Pi ib r a m th e i n cr e a se i gravity i s n ear l y proportio n al

'

,
n

to th e i n crease in t e m peratu re B u t al th ough Hi cks as .

w e h ave see n ( pa ge discover e d a co n n e cti o n b e twee n th e

v al u es o f A an d t h e t e m perat u r s i Ba ily s e x peri m e n ts a n d ’
e n
,

C or n u an d Baill e ( p age 1 25 ) got a l a rge r resul t f o r A in su m m e r

th a n in w i n ter we h a v e o reaso f or l ooki g upo th e v ria
,
n n n n a

tio n s in te m peratu r e as a n e x pla n atio n o f th e a n o m ali e s u d e r n

co n sid eratio n A n i n ter e s t i g criticis m o f v o St e r n e c k s w ork

. n n
’

is give n by Poy n ti n g ( 1 8 5 pp 29 Sh ort accou n ts of it

,
.

are giv e n by Fresdorf ( 1 8 6 4 pp 1 7 9) an d G un th er ( 1 96 4 vol ,

.
—
, .

1 p , .

WI L SI N G . In 1 8 8 7, J Wil s in g ( 1 70 ) m ade at P o ts danf a

. de
ter m i n ati o n o f th e m e a n de n sity o f th e eart h by m ea n s o f
an

i n stru m e n t whi ch is c al led th e pe n d u l u m bal an c e an d is

th e ,

co m m o n be a m b ala ce t r ed th roug h n u It is prac t i cal ly a

n

pe n du l u m m ade o f a rod wi th b ll s at e a ch d an d a k n i f e a en

edge placed j ust abov e t h e c e t r e o f g ra vi ty Th e i n stru m e t n . n

u sed by Wil s in g co n sist e d o f a d ra w n brass t ube 1 m l o n g .

,

cm in dia m eter a d 1 6 c m th ick str n gth e e d e ar t h e

. n . .
, e n n

m id dl e wh ere t h e k n i f e e dg e i s affi x ed Th e k i f e e dge an d

-

. n -

th e bed o n wh ich i t rest e d w re o f agate a d 6 c m l o g T o e , n . n .

t h e e n ds w ere scre wed t h e b a lls of br a ss weighi n g 5 40 gr each .

,

a n d o n th e upper bal l was a p i carryi n g d iscs wh i c h w re u sed n e

for fi n di n g the m o m e n t f i n e rtia a n d th e positi o n o f t h e c e n

o

tre o f gravi ty o f t h e p n d ul u m Its m otio n was observ e d by

e .

th e tel e scop e an d scal e m e th od a m irror bei g a ttach ed to t h e , n

side o f th e pe n du l u m parallel to the k n ife e dg e Th e pe n d -

u l u m was m ou n ted 0 11 a m a ssi v e pi er i t h e b a s e m e n t o f th e n

Astrophysical O bservatory i Potsda m a d was protect e d f ro m n ,

n

air cu rr e n ts by a cl oth li ed wood e n coveri g

-
n n .

Th e attra cti n g m asses w e re c ast iro cyli d e rs each weigh i n g -

n n

3 25 kg .They were so a rr a ged o n a co n ti n u ous stri n g passi n g

n

over p ull e ys that wh e n o e was opposite t h e l ow e r brass ball o n

n

o n e side o f th e pe n d ul u m the oth e r w a s opposite th e u pper b a l l

o n th e oth er si de Th ei r relative p osi ti o s coul d be qu ickly

. n

cha n ged f ro m with ou t th e roo m so th a t th e for m er m ass ca m e ,

oppo site th e upper ball an d th e latt e r m ass opposite th e l ower

t h e defl e ctio n was n o w in t h e opposite directio n fro m wh at i t
was in the first case .

13 1
 MEMO IRS O N

Th e d ouble d eflectio n d u e to th e ch a n ge in positi o n of t h e

m asses an d t h e ti m e o f ib rati o n ar e t h e qua tities re q uired
,
v n

fo r th e deter m i n atio n o f A T h e r adi n gs f o r th es e q ua n ti ti e s

. e

were m ade by th e m eth od o f Baily w hich h as bee n al ready de ,

scribed Th e ti m e o f vi bra ti o n was de t e r m i n ed first with t h e

.

d iscs 0 1 top o f th e u p per bal l the n wi th o n e re m ov e d an d th e n

1 ,

with stil l a n oth er re m oved In th is way th e m o m e n t o f i n e r ti

. a

was obtai n ed T h e th e ory of th e i n stru m e t i s co m plic a t e d

. n ,

a d for it refere n ce m us t be m ad e to th e origi n a l paper

n Th e .

r e sul t obtai ed f o r A was

n

In 1 8 8 9 Wil s in g p ubl ish e d ( 1 72) a n accou n t o f so m e fu rth er

,

observati o n s w ith t h e s am e app a r tu s so m e sligh t ch a n ges a ,

h a vi n g be m a de in i t in the m e a ti m e E x tr a precau tio s

en n . n

were take n in order to a void th e e ffects of v a riatio n s o f t e m

e r a tu r e E x peri m e n ts w ere m ad e with t h e ol d ball s wi th n e w
p .
,

lea d bal ls a d w i th t h e p e n d u l u m rod al o n e Th e m ea n r e

,
n .

s ul t fro m th es e was 5 5 8 8 t 0 1 3 ; a n d the fi n al average of all .

h is det e r m i n ati o n s 5 5 79 i 0 1 2 . . .

A preli m i n ary pap e r ( 1 6 3 ) was read by Wils i g be f ore t h e n

Berl i n Acad e m y an d al so an e x tract ( 1 6 9) of hi s fi rst p ap e r

, .

A co n de n s e d tra n sl a tio n o f both p a p e rs was m ad e by Pro f J . .

H Gore ( 1 71 ) for th e Sm i thso n ia n R eport f o r 1 888 an d a sh ort

.
,

acco u n t o f th e work i s give n by Poy n ti n g ( 1 8 5 pp 6 5 9 ) an d , .

—

by Fr e sd or f ( 1 8 6 4 p , .

PO Y NTI N G Prof J H Poy n ti n g publ ish ed in 1 8 78 th e

. . . .

resul ts ( 1 46 ) of a study o f t h e b e a m bala n ce H e fou n d th at .

t h e so urces o f error were te m p e ratu r e cha ges produ ci n g c o n n

vectio n c urre n ts an d u n equal e x p an si o n of th e ar m s an d th e ,

n e cessity o f f requ e n tly raisi n g th e k i fe edg e s f ro m th e pla n es n -

.

He tried to overco m e th e for m er diffi c u lty by taki n g th e sa m e

p r e cau ti o n s as th ose e m pl oye d by sers o f th e torsio n bala n ce u

a n d h e di d away a l togeth er wi t h th e raisi n g o f t h e bea m b e

'

tw e e n w e igh i n gs an d whe n th e weigh t s h ad to b e e x cha n ged

,

h el d th e p an fi x ed in a cla m p .

Th e paper gives a d e scrip tio n of h is balan ce an d ill ustrates

h ow i t c a be used ( 1 ) to co m pare two w eigh ts an d ( 2) to fin d
n , ,

th e m ea n de n si ty o f t h e earth Th e m oti o n of the beam w as .

'

o b s e v e d by m ea s o f a tel e scope an d sc a l e
i n t h e m irror b e i n g ,

fi x ed at t h e ce n tre of th e bea m Th e d e fl e cti o n of the ray .

co u l d be m u ltipl ied by repeated r e flectio n s bet wee n this m i rror

1 32
 THE L A WS O F GRAV ITATI O N

an d a n other which was fi x ed a d n arly parallel to th e for m er n e .

T h e ce n tre o f oscill a tio n w a s d e ter m i d a f ter t h e m e th od of ne

Baily wi th th e torsio n b a la n c e As a resu lt o f 1 1 obs e rv a ti o n s .

Prof Poy ti n g f o u n d the m e a n d e n sity of th e earth to be

. n

5 69i 15
. . He f e l t j ustified t here f ore in proce e di n g to h ave a
.
, ,

m ore sui table bala n ce co n stru cted in order to m a ke a m ore

c a r e fu l d eter m i n atio o f th is q ua n ti ty n .

The i n vestigatio co n ti n u ed th rough m a n y years an d t h e

n ,

resu lts ( 1 80 an d 1 8 5 pp 71 1 5 6 ) w e re n o t p ub lis h e d u n ti l 1 89 1

, .
—
.

M an y u n fores e e n di ffic ul ties arose d uri n g th e progress of th e

work bu t by patie n c e an d skill Poy n ti n g was able to overco m e
,

th ese di ffi cul t ies a n d to begi n to tak e observatio n s in 1 8 90 .

The bala n ce was of th e l a rg e b ull io n type 1 23 c m lo n g an d , .

,

m a de wi th e x tra r igidi ty by O e r tl in g I t was s e t u p in a base .

m e n t roo m at Maso n Col leg e Bi r m i gha m Th e pri n ciple ,

n .

u po n w h ic h th e e x peri m e n t is based is as follo ws : two balls

of abo u t th e sa m e m ass a e su spe n ded fro m th e two a r m s of r

t h e bala n ce Be n eath t h e bala n ce is a t ur t a ble c a rryi n g a

. n -

h eavy sph erical m ass vertically u n der o n e o f th e b a lls The .

positio n o f th e bea m is observe d an d th e t u r n t a ble m oved u n -

til the m ass is u n der th e oth er ball an d th e positio n o f th e bea m

agai n obs e rved Th e deflectio n m eas ures twice th e a ttractio n
.

of t h e m ass f o r th e ball The attractio n o f th e m ass f o r th e

.

bea m a n d wires etc is the n e li m i n ated by repeati n g th ese o b

, .
,

s e r v a tio n s w ith th e b a lls su spe ded at a d iffere n t dista n ce be n

l ow th e ar m f o r th e n th e attractio n o f the m ass o n th e bala n ce

,

re m ai n s th e sa m e a n d we fin d th e ch a n ge in th e attractio n o f
,

th e m ass f o r th e bal l wi th ch a n ge of dista n ce Th e c al culati o n .

was co m plicated by th e prese n ce o n th e tu r n table of a n other -

m ass as a cou n terpoise to th e for m er o n e it was s m aller t h a n

t h at o n e an d at a correspo n di n gl y greater di sta n ce f ro m th e
ce n tre It was u sed because certai n a n o m alies could be ao
. .

co u n ted f o r o n ly on t h e suppositi o n that th e floor til ted w h e n

th e tur n t able wa s rota t e d with th e l a rge m ass o n ly upo n i t
-

I n stead o f th e ordi n ary m i rror fi x ed o n th e be a m Poy n ti n g ,

u sed th e double s uspe n sio n m i rror (see Darwi n B A R e p

-
. . .
,

The riders were m a n ip ulated by m echa n is m f ro m with

o ut an d th e observer was s t atio n ed in t h e roo m above wh e n ce
, ,

h e co ul d m a ke all ch an ges an d observa t io n s with ou t ope n i n g

th e bal a n ce roo m T h e attracte d an d attracti n g m ass e s w e re
.

m ade o f a n a lloy of lead an d a n ti m o n y Th e ball s were gilde d .

1 33
 ME MO IRS O N

an dweigh e d over 21 000 gr each Th e large m ass weigh ed . .

1 50 000 g r a d th e cou
.
,
n t e rpoise a bou t half a s m u ch A first
n .

set o f observa tio n s gave A T h e attracti n g bodies were

_

th e n a ll i v e rted in order to eli m i n ate t h e e ff cts of wa n t o f

n e

sy mm etry in th e positi o n o f th e t ur n table an d o f h o m og e -

n it in th e m asses A n e w set o f observatio n s gav e A : 5 46

e
y . . .

Th e di ff ere n ce bet we e n th e resu l ts of th e two sets m u s t h av e

bee n caused by a cavi ty or irregul a r distribu ti o n of d e n sity in
t h e large m ass an d by oth er e x peri m e n ts Pro f Poy n ti n g f o u n d
, .

th at its c e n tre o f gr vi ty was n o t at its ce tre o f figu re b u t

a n ,

w a s n early at th e pl a c e a t wh i ch h is gravi tatio n al e x peri m e n ts

wo ul d h ave suggested it t o be Th e m ea n resul t for A i s take n .

to be a n d f o r th e gravita ti o co n st an t G x 10 n , ,
-
8
.

Poy n ti n g re m arks that th e effec t s of co n vecti o n cu rre n ts are

greater in th e bea m b ala ce tha n i th e torsio n bala n ce si n ce n n ,

t h e m otio n o f th e for m e r i s in a verti cal pla n e H e th i n k s .

th at a bal an ce o f gr e atly red u ced di m e n si on s would h ave bee n

pre f erable Th e ad m irable way in wh ich Prof Po yn ti n g h as
. .

u tili zed th e co m m o balan ce f o absol u t e m easu r e m e n ts o f

n r

force caused t h U n i versity of Ca m bridge to award h im th e

e

Ada m s Prize in 1 893 .

For a sh ort accou n t o f th is work see Wal le n tin

B E R G E T In 1 75 6 Bougu e r read before th e Acade m y o f
; ,

Scie n c e s t h e resu lts ( 9 ) o f so m e e x p e ri m e n ts m ade by h im to

deter m i n e wh eth er th e p l u m b li n e was a ff ected by th e tidal -

m oti o n of th e ocea n He w as n o t able to d etect a n y su ch

.

effect Towards th e m i ddle o f l as t c e n tu ry B o sc o v itc h pro

.

posed ( 1 40 vol 1 pp 3 1 4 a n d 3 27) to pl a c e a l o n g p e n d ul u m

,
.
, .

in a very h igh t ower by t h e e dge o f t h e sea w h ere th e h eigh t ,

o f th e tid e i s very great a n d to observ e t h e d eviati o n d u e to

,

th e rise o f th e water an d t h e n ce to c al culate th e m ea n de n si ty

,

o f th e earth V o n Zach suggested ( 49 vol 1 p 1 7) a m odificatio n

.
, .
,

of th e e x peri m e t B o s c o v itc h al so proposed th e u se o f a r e ser

n .

voi r a f t e r th e m a n n er abou t to be descri bed us e d by Berget , .

In 1 8 04 R obiso n in h is “
Mechan i cal Ph ilosoph y vol 1 page ”
.
, , ,

3 3 9 poi n ts o u t tha t a very se n sible c fl e c t o n t h e val u e o f grav

,
-

i ty m igh t b e observed a t A n n apolis N ova Scotia d u e to th e , ,

very h igh t i des th ere Th e th eory of th is local i n flue n ce i s

.

gi ve n in Th o m so n an d T a it s N atu ral Ph ilosophy pt II

“ ’ ”
. .
,

page 3 89 Struve ( 1 29 ) propose d to fin d A fro m observatio n s

.

1 34
 THE L A WS O F G R AV I TATI O N

on pl u m b li n es placed o n each si de o f th e Bristol C h an n el an d

-

,,

Kel ler ( 1 6 8 ) calculated th e deflectio n o f th e pl u m b li n e d ue -

to th e d r a i n i n g o f L ake F u ci n o In 1 8 93 M Berge t u tilized .

, .

th is pri n cipl e in order t o fin d ( 1 8 1 ) th e de n si ty o f t h e earth .

He h ad t h e u se o f a lake of 3 2 hectares in area in th e C o m

m u n e o f H a bay la n eu ve in Belgian L u x e m bou rg
- -
Th e level o f .

the lake could be l owered 1 m in a few h ou rs an d as quickly .

,

r e gai n ed He cou ld t h us i n trod uce u n der h is i n stru m e n t a

.

practi c a lly i n fi n ite pla n e o f m atter wh ose attractio n co uld be

calcul a ted a n d observed Th e apparatu s u sed to m easu re th e.

attra ctio n was th e h ydroge n gravi m eter su ch as Bo ussi n g a u lt

a n d M as c ar t
( C o m p R e nd v o l 9 5 pp 1 26
. 8 ) used to fi.n d,
th e .
,
.
—

d i u r n al vari a tio of gravi ty Th e variatio n of th e col u m n of

n .

m erc u ry was observed by th e i n terfere n ce f ri n ges in vac uo b e

t w e e n th e su rf ace o f th e m ercu ry an d th e botto m o f th e tu be ,

wh i c h was w orke d Optically pla n e A first series of observa .

ti o n s was m ad e whe n th e lak e was lowered 50 c m an d a n other

-
.
,

wh e n i t was l owered 1 m A ch a n ge o f 1 m caused a displace . .

m e n t o f the m ercury col u m n o f cm Th e val u e of .

th e gravit atio n co n stan t fou n d was 6 80 x 1 0 o f A an d .

— 8
, ,

o f th e m ass o f th e earth x 10 gr 27
.

M Gouy re m ark s ( 1 82) th at su ch a resul t w oul d i m ply that

.

th e te m per a tu re re m ai n ed co n st an t d u ri n g h ours t o r an t awe —

o f a d egr e e wh i ch is i m possible Pavillo n with th e greatest

, .
,

c a re was able to reach “J aw of a degree o n ly So that t h e

, .

r e sul t gi ve n by Berget c an n o t be so acc urate as h e supposed .

Fo r a sh ort acco u n t of th e e x peri m e n t see Fresdorf ( 1 8 6 4 ,

pp 29
.

B o x s Prof C V Boys read before th e R oyal Society in 1 88 9

. . . .
, ,

a n i m porta n t p a per 1 75 a n d 1 76 ) o n th e best proportio n s an d

(
desig n for th e torsio n bala n ce as an i n stru m e n t f o r fi n di n g th e
gravitatio n co n st an t He sh ewed that th e se n sibility of th e
.

a pparatu s if th e period o f oscillatio n i s always th e sa m e is in

, ,

depe n de n t o f th e li n ear di m e n sio n s of the apparatus an d r e

m ark d that th e st a te m e n ts o f C or n u o n th i s poi n t ( page 1 25 )
e

are n o t correct Th ere are great adva n tages to be gai n ed by

.

red u ci n g th e di m e n si o n s of th e apparat us of Cave n di sh 50 o r

1 00 ti m es ; t h e m ai n o n e is th at th e possibility o f variati o n o f
te m per ature in th e appar a tu s is e n or m o usly m i n i m ized Th e n .
,

too th e cas e c an be m ad e cyli n d rical an d correctio n s f or i ts at

,

13 5
 M E MO IRS O N

tracti o n avoi ded U til quartz fibres e x is ted i t w oul d h ave

. n

bee n i m possibl e to have m a de th is r e d u ctio n in th e di m e n s io n s

o f t h e app arat u s a n d retai n ed th e period of 5 to 1 0 m i n utes
'

Th e i n trod u ctio o f t hi s i n val u a bl e n e w m e an s of s uspe n sio n

n

is also d ue to Professor Boys A n oth er i m prov e m e n t in t h e

.

f or m of t h e appara t u s devised by h im is the s uspe n d i n g o f t h e

s m all balls at differe n t di st an c e s bel ow t h e a m ( th e m asses r

m ust be a t correspo n di n g l evels ) so that each m ass acts p r ac

,

tic ally o n o n e bal l o n ly .

Boys sh owed to t h e Soci ety a bal a n ce of th is desig n ; it had

an a r m of o n ly 1 3 m m .in le n gth was ti m es as se n si tive as
,

th at o f Cave n dish an d behaved very sa t is f actorily He pro .

posed to prepare a bala n c e o f t h is ki d especially s u it able f o r n

absol ute deter m i n ati o n s an d capable o f deter m i n i n g the gravi

tat ion co n sta n t to 1 part in 1 0 000 .

A n accou n t o f h is co mplete d w ork ( 1 8 7 a n d 1 8 9 ) was re a d in

1 8 94. For th e details of th is beautifu l e x peri m e n t an d th e in
n io u s way in wh ich th e apparatu s was desig n ed th e origi n al
g e

paper m ust be co n sul ted Th e ge n eral desig n was th a t o f h is

.

earlier apparatu s b u t very great atte n ti o n was give n to th e

,

m i n utest d etails an d especially to th e arra n ge m e n ts for m eas

,

u ri n g th e di m e n si o n s So m e i dea o f the accu racy ai m ed at

.

m ay be got fro m co n sideri n g th at in order to ob tai n a resu lt

correct to 1 in 1 0 000 i t was n ecessary to m easu re th e large
m asses to 1 in 1 0 000 th e ti m es to 1 in 20 000 so m e l e n gth s to
, ,

1 in 20 000 an d a n gles to 1 in 1 0 000 The di m e n si o n s fi n ally .

u sed were dia m eter o f m asses

,
an d in ; dista n ce b e .

twee n m asses i n p la n 4 an d 6 in ; dista n ce betwee n balls in .

p l a n 1 in . dia m eter o f ball s 2 an d 25 in

. differe n ce o f l evel
. .

betwee n u pper an d lower balls 6 in Th e m asses w e re o f lead .

for m ed u n der great pressu re an d th e balls of gold

, .

Th e m o m e n t of i n ertia of th e bea m was deter m i n e d by fin d

in g th e period wh e n th e balls w ere s uspe n de d fro m i t an d ,

w h e n th ey were take n away an d a cyl i n dri cal body of sil ve r ,

equal in weigh t to the balls wit h t h eir attach m e n ts su spe n ded ,

fro m th e m id dle o f th e bea m Th e apparatu s was e n closed by

.

a series o f m etalli c scree n s to preve n t te m perature ch a n ges ,

an d o u tside o f all was a do uble walled woode n b o x with t h e

-

space betwee n th e walls filled with cotto n wool The fi n al resul t -

.

f o r t h e gravitati o n co n sta n t was x 1 0 an d for A ‘

s
, ,

T h e last figure in each case has n o sig n i fica n ce b u t Boys c o n ,

1 36
 THE L AWS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

th at th e n e x t to th e l ast coul d n o t be m ore than 2 in

s id e r e d

error at th e outsi de He is still co n vi n ced th a t 1 part in

.

1 0 000 c an be reach ed b ut would i n creas e th e le g th of th e

, n

bea m to 5 c m si n ce th e disturbi n g m o m e n ts d ue to co n vec ti o n

.
,

are proportio n al to th e 5 th po wer of th e li n ear di m e n sio s n o t n ,

to th e 7th as h e h ad origi n ally s upposed A n e x cell e n t r es u m e .

o f th e e x peri m e t is to b e fou n d i
n th e lecture del ivered by n

Boys before t h e R oyal I n stit u tio n

E O E TV O E S A series of i n vestiga t i o n s upo n gravi tatio n i s n o w
.

u n der way by Prof R v o n E 5 t 5 s o f B u dapest He has p ub

. . v .

l ish e d a preli m i n ary accou n t ( 1 9 2) o n ly o f his e x peri m e n ts bu t ,

they pro m ise to be very elaborat e a n d e x haustive His paper .

begi n s wi t h a m ath e m atical disc ussio o f th e space va riatio n -

'
n

o f gravity as ded u ced f ro m th e pote n t i a l fu c t io n He i n vesti n .

gates th e equipote n tial su r f ace an d th e m easu re m e n ts n ecessary

t o deter m i n e t h e pri n cipal radii o f c u rvatu re th e variatio n o f ,

gravi ty alo g th e s urface an d th e vari a tio n perpe n di c ular to th e

n ,

su rf a ce The latter h as alr e ady b e e m easured with th e pe n d

. n

ul u m a n d by Jolly ( 1 44 a d
,
Keller n Th iese n ( 1 79 )
a n d oth ers wi t h th e co m m o n b a l n c e Fo r the m easu re m e t a . n

of th e oth er qu an ti ties v o E et s uses th e torsi o n b ala n c e

n vo .

This h e m akes in two for m s :the first i s o f th e s a m e g e n eral

type as th a t o f B aily an d i s called th e K r nmm n n gs va r iom eter ,

si n ce i t i s u sed to m easu re th e d iffer e n ce o f the r e cip oc al s o f r

the pri n c ipal radi i of c u rvature ; th e seco n d is li ke th a t o f

Boys in th at o n e ball is on o e n d of th e rod an d th e oth erne

suspe n ded 1 00 c m b e low th e o t h e r e n d by m ea n s of a wire

.
,

an d i s called th e H or iz on ta lv a r iom ez er The pec uliarity o f ‘

.

th e se i n stru m e n ts is in th e m eth od d e vised for g e tti n g ri d o f

co n vectio n cu rre n ts ; v o n E otv os m akes the case wi t h do ubl e
w alls o f thi n m etal with an a ir spac e of fro m 5 to 1 0 m m So -
.

st e ady is th e m otio n that th e bala n ce c a n be used in an y roo m

in th e labor a tory an d eve n in th e free air at n igh t
,
Th e perio d .

is us ually fro m 1 0 to 20 m i n utes an d t h e su spe n sio n wire is o f ,

pl a ti n u m of 1 00 to 1 5 0 c m le n gth Th e rod swi n gs in a flat

. .

cyli n drical b o x 40 c m in dia m eter an d 2 c m deep

. . .

So m e i n vestig a tio n s h ave b e e n m a de o f t h e variatio n o f

gravi ty in th e n eigh bourh ood o f th e h ill Sagh b e g wher e v on r ,

Ster n eck fou n d grea t pec uliaritie s So m e preli m i n a ry deter ,

m in atio n s have bee n m ade o f th e co n sta n t of gravitatio n also ,

1 37
 ME MO IRS O N

wi th a I e s u l t 6 6 5 x 1 0 V o E otvos speaks o f th e m eth od

.
8
. n

e m pl oyed s an e tirel y n e w o n e but i t i s o n ly a v ariatio n o f

a n ,

th at al l e ady e m pl oyed by R eich an d l a t er by D r B i a u n th e , .

,

oscillatio n m eth od Th e i n stru m e n t ( th e K 1 m m u n gsv ar 1 0 m

. 1 1

eter ) is s e t u p betwee n t wo pillars o f lead an d th e ti m e o f v ib ,

r a ti o n observed both wh e n th e torsio n rod i s in th e l i n e j oi n i n g

th e pillars an d w h e n i t i s perpe n dic ular t o th is li n e Th e .

paper i s ch a racterized by an al m ost total disregard o f th e work

a lready d o n e in t h e field o f gravi tati o n .

E 5 t v 5s gives a descripti o n of two n e w i n stru m e n ts for u se

in th e study o f gravi tatio n O n e h e calls th e G r a v ita tion com
.

p en sa to r ; in d esig n i t is si m ilar to th e oth ers b u t th e ar m ,

s wi n gs i n a rrow tube
n a Th e t ube i s su rro u n ded at each e n d
.

by th e co m pe n sa t i n g m asses h avi n g th e ball s at t h eir ce n tres ;

th ese m asses ar e o f th e shape o f a d isc wi th two al m ost c o m
p l e te quad ra n ts take n away j u st e n ough bei n g l eft to h ol d th e
,

re m ai n i n g two qu adra n ts togeth er By ori e n ti n g th ese m asses .

a n y a m ou n t o f co m pe n sati n g a ttracti o n re q u i re d c a n be pro

d ce d
u .Th e oth er i n stru m e n t i s called th e Gr a vitation m n lti
Z u n der eath th e torsi o n bala n ce is a t ur n table w ith
'

p
-

z ca to r n -

t h e attrac ti n g m ass ; w h e n th e bal l h a s reach ed it s m a x i m u m

elo n gati o n in t h e d irectio n o f th e m ass th e latter is s ud de n ly ,
.

m oved to th e opposi te si de an d so o n Fro m th e di ff ere n ce

, .

of tw o su ccessi ve el o n gatio n s an d a kn owledge o f th e da m p ,

in g t h e a m o n t of th e att ractio n c an be deter m i n ed

,
u This .

is rath er si m il a r to a piece of apparatu s proposed by Joly ( 1 77)

in 1 890 .

B R A U N O n e of th e latest an d m ost e l aborate deter m i n ati o n s

.

of th e m ea n de n si ty o f t h e earth i s t h at m ad e by D r Carl .

Brau n S J at Mariasch ei n in Bo h e m ia
, . .
,
In its g e n
eral for m the apparatu s i s like that e m ployed by R e ich in hi s
later e x peri m e n ts Li ke R e i ch too h e u ses t wo d isti n ct
.
, ,

m eth od s o f fi n di n g h is resu lts th e d e flectio n an d th e oscilla i ,

tio n m eth od s Th e e x peri m e n ts of D r Brau n d i ff er h owev e r

. .

in several very i m porta n t respects f ro m th ose of R eich ; th e

di m e n sio n s o f th e a p paratus are m uch red u ced th e m asses are ,

su spe n d e d fro m wi res an d th e d eflecti o n i s deter m i n ed differ

e n tly ; bu t th e respect in wh ich i t di ff ers fro m all previou s d e ,

t e 1 m in atio n s i s in th e fact that th e t 0 1 si o n r o d sw i n gs in a

partial vac u u m of a bou t 4 m m o f m er cu r y This w as sug . .

1 38
 THE L A WS O F GRA V ITATIO N

gested by Faye ( 1 3 0 ) an d by Boys b u t n o i n vestigatio n o f th e ,

ki n d had ever bee n m ad e .

Th e e x peri m e n ts w e re begu n in 1 88 7 In a cor n er o f a li v .

in g roo m a h e avy sto n e sla b w as se t i n to th e sto n e wall ; o n

-

th is was a gl ass plat e f ro m wh ich a ros e a brass tripod to carry

th e su sp e n sio n wire 1 m lo g an d th e torsi o rod ; an d o n
, . n ,
n -

th e plate fitted a i rtigh t a co n i cal glass cover with i n wh ich a

vacu u m coul d be m ad e T h e apparat u s was so tigh t that th e.

pressu re i n side di d n o t ch a n ge in 4 ye a rs Su spe ded f ro m a . n

m ov a bl e ri n g e n ci rcl i n g t h e glass cover were th e two m asses ,

abou t 42 c m ap art th e m ass e s u sed were two sets o f sph eres

.
,

o n e o f brass weigh i n g 5 kg each a n d th e oth er of i ro n 1 1 2 m m .

, , .

in di a m e ter fill e d wit h m erc u ry a n d weigh i n g a bo u t

, kg , .

each T h e torsio n rod was a tria n gle o f copper wires a n d th e

.

balls wer e su spe n d ed f ro m i ts e n d s a n d lay in th e s a m e h ori

z o n tal pla n e c m apar t E ach bal l w as o f gild ed brass a n d
. .

w eighed a bou t 5 4 gr In ord e r to provide ag a i n s t te m per a tu re

.

ch a n ges th e wh ole appara t u s was s u rro u n ded by m e tal scree n s

, ,

cloth h a n gi n gs an d woode n e n cl osu res .

Th e defl e ctio n m eth od of observatio n i s practical ly th a t o f

Cave n d ish b u t th e posi ti o n of th e ce n tre was f ou n d rather
,

differe n tly D r Bra u n observ e d th e ti m e o f th e passage in

. .

each d irecti o n across th e w ire o f th e telescope o f several scal e

divisio n s n e ar th e c e n t re an d took as the ce n tre that poi n t ,

wi th refere n ce to wh ich th e ti m e o f oscillatio n w as th e sa m e in

both d i rectio n s He fou n d f o r th e fi al correcte d m ea n resul t
. n

A = 5 5 296 2
. .

In t h eoscillatio n m e t h od th e peri od was deter m i n ed whe n

th e m asses were in th e li n e j oi n i n g th e ball s an d also wh e n they ,

were in a li n e at righ t a n gles to that d irec tio n Th e fi n al cor .

r e c te d m ea n resu lt gave A = 5 5 292O T h e m ea n o f all is . .

5 5 29 45 i 001 7
. The e x tre m es w e re
. . an d The
m ea n of l l t h e res ul ts fou n d in 1 892 was
a a d in 1 8 9 4 n

was
Th e fi n al res u l t f o r th e gravita tio n co n sta n t was
8
x 10
—
.

In appe n di x is gi ve n a fu rth er d iscu ssi o n o f th e c o r r e c

an

tio n s to be m ade o n accou n t of da m pi n g D r Brau n f ou n d hi s . .

for m er esti m ate to be in error an d af ter e x a m i n ati o n g a ve as ,

th e m ost probabl e fi n al resu l t s an d G ,

x 10 — 8

139
 ME MO IRS O N

A co n cise accou n t of th e work i s give n in N a tu r e

KO E N I G R IC H A R Z A N D K RIGA R M E N ZE L In 1 884 Pro

,
’

-
.
,

f e s s o r s A K en ig a n d F R ic h ar
. proposed ( 1 5 9 an d 1 6 0) to
. z

deter m i n e th e gra vi tatio n co n sta n t by a m e t h od wh ich i s a

m odificatio n o f that u sed by Jolly ( page In the latt e r
e x peri m e n t th e l ower set o f sc al e pa n s was 21 m be n eath th e .

u pper a n d di ff ere n ces o f te m perature were u n avoi dable Th e .

i m prove m e n t proposed w as t o have th e sets of scal e pa n s m u ch

cl oser togeth er to m easure th e ch a n ge o f weigh t with h eigh t
,

af t er th e m a n n er o f Jolly an d th e n to i n sert betwee n th e u pper

an d l ower pa n s a h ug e block o f l ead with h oles in it f o r t h e

passage of th e wi res supporti n g th e lower p a n s A weighi n g .

was m ade wi th two n early equal m asses o n e in th e righ t upper , ,

th e oth er in th e l eft l ower p a n th e n th e f or m er in th e righ t

lo wer i s b a la n ce d agai n st th e la t ter in th e l eft upper p an Fro m .

th ese w e igh i n gs taki n g acco u n t of th e resu lt o f si m ilar o b

,

s e r v at io s with ou t th e block
n th e val u e o f 4 ti m es t h e attr ae
,

tio n o f th e bl ock i s d et e r m i n ed an d f ro m a co m pariso n of thi s ,

resul t wi th th e cal cu lated attrac t i o n th e gravita t io n co n sta n t ,

c an b e deter m i n ed Professors K on ig an d R ic h ar see m t o

. z

h ave h i t u po n th e sa m e idea i n dep e n d e n tly of e a ch oth er In .

1 8 8 1 Keller proposed ( 1 6 7) a so m e wh a t si m ilar m odifi catio n of

,

th e Jolly e x peri m e n t Professor A M M ayer s uggested ( 1 6 1 )

. . .

th e use o f m e rc u ry i n st e ad o f lead for th e attracti n g m ass bu t

'

K é n ig an d R ic h a r repli e d ( 1 6 2) th at Mayer had m is u n de r

z

stood th e for m of th e e x peri m e n t an d gave a lu ci d an d si m ple ,

e x pla n ati o n of th eir m eth od .

In 1 893 appeared a report ( 1 83 an d 1 8 4) o n t h e observatio n s

,

m ade to fin d th e decrease o f gravi ty wi th i n crease o f h eigh t .

A d escripti o n i s give n o f th e bala n ce an d o f th e i m prove m e n ts

i n trod uced i n to i t in order to overco m e th e liability to varia
ti o n in i ts readi n gs Th e m asses weigh ed agai n st e ach oth er
.

were 1 kg each a n d th e bala n ce h ad a se n si ti ve n ess o f 1 pa rt

.
,

in 1 000 000 Al l e x cha n ge o f weigh ts was m ad e au to m atic ally

.

wi th ou t ope n i n g th e covers Th e apparat u s was caref u lly s u r .

rou n ded wi th m etal scre e n s to ward off te m peratu re ch a n ges .

It was set u p in a bastio n o f th e ci tadel at Spa n d a u an d in ,

-

co n seque n ce o f t h e departu re o f K on ig to accept a pro f essor

sh ip a t Berli n D r K r igar Me n ze l assisted in th e carryi n g o n
,
.
-

o f th e research Th e pa n s were
. m ap a rt ve r tic a lly The . .

1 40
 THE L A WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

m
c h a n ge in gravi ty observed was 000006 523 w h ereas th e
.

se c .

cal cul at e d val u e was 000006 9 7 T h e difl e e c e i s ascribe d to

. . r n

t h e l oc a l a ttrac t i o n o f walls etc ,

.

Th e paper 1 98 ) e m bodyi n g th e fi n al e s u l ts was prese n ted

( r

to th e Berli Acade m y in De c 1 89 7 A m os t e x h a ustive e x

n .
,
.

a m i atio n h ad bee n made o f th e possi ble sources o f e rror an d

n ,

t h e devices for overco m i n g th es e difficul t i e s were m ost i n ge n

i ous a n d elabor a t e In th e c ases where t h e s u rc e s o f error
. o

cou l d n ot be eli m i n ated as in th e vari a tio n s o f te m peratu re with

,

ti m e an d place th e e ffect is car e f ully co n sidered an d allo wed

,

for . O bservatio n s were m ad e co n ti n u o u sly f ro m Sep t 1 8 90 to , ,

Fe b 1 8 9 6 a n d f ro m the e l e ga n ce of t h e m et h od a n d th e ti m e
.
, ,

an d c a r e devo t ed t o th e worki n g o u t of the resul t this deter ,

-

m i atio n o f t h e gravi tatio n co n s t a n t a n d t h e m e a n de n si ty o f

n

th e earth m u st be take n as o n e o f th e very best .

T h e block of lead w e ig h e d 1 00 0 0 0 k g was 200 c m h igh a n d .

,
.

21 0 c m squ are an d w as b u il t u p o ut o f b a rs o f lead 1 0 x 1 0 x 3 0

.

cm 0 11 the top of a m a ssive pier

. T h e a m o u n t of t h e s e t tli n g .

o f th e pier was m e a sur e d a n d f o u n d to be n o t i m po r t n t a n d a ,

th e sh ape o f th e bloc k was n o t dis tor te d by i ts o wn p re ssu re .

T h e fi n al val ue f o r G was 10 an d f o r A
8
—

, ,

:
t 0 09
. .

Professors Me n zel p ublish ed ( 1 9 1 an d

R ic h ar z an d K r ig a r -

in 1 8 9 6 a co n d e n sed accou n t o f th ei r w ork

, O th er ab .

s t r ac ts are als o t o be fou n d ( 1 8 5 pp 6 4 5 1 8 6 4 pp 26 7 an d , .

—
, , .
—
,

M I NO R N O TI C E S In 1 88 9 D r W L aska of Prague proposed

.
’

, . .

( 1 7 3 ) a m eth o d o f fi n di n g th e de n si ty o f th e earth A t t h e top .

o f a rod projecti n g above a pe n d ul u m is a le n s wh ich i s so cl ose

to a fi x ed pl ate o f gl ass t ha t N e wto n s ri n gs a e visi bl e A ’

r .

h oll ow b al l n ear th e bob o f th e pe n d u l u m i s th e n filled wi th

m erc ury an d a ttracts t h e bob bri n gi n g th e l e s n a r e r t h e , n e

plate ; a n observa t io o f th e m ove m e n t o f t h e N e w to n s ri n gs

n
’

will m easu re th e deflectio n o f the bob N o fu rth e r report h as .

bee n pu blish ed A n accou n t of h is m eth od is gi ve n by G un th er

.

( 1 9 6 4 ol 1 p , v .
, .

A bou t t h s a m e ti m e Professor Joly of D ubli n suggested

e

( 1 7 7 ) a reso a ce m eth od f n
o r th e sa m e p u rpose A pe n d ul u m in
n .

a vacu o us vess e l h as th e sa m e peri od a s two m assive o n es ke pt

1 41
 M E M O I RS O N

goi n g o u tsi de th e vessel Th e a m pli tu de of th e m otio n o f t h e

.

i n er pe n d ul u m d ue to a gi v e n n um ber of swi n gs o f th e o uter

n ,

o n es wou ld giv e a m e as u re o f th e co n stan t o f gravi tati o n .

In 1 8 9 5 Professor A S Mack e n zie o f Bry n Mawr C ollege

‘

. .
,

p ubl ish ed a n accou n t ( 1 90) o f so m e e x peri m e n ts wit h th e Boys ’

f or m o f torsio n bala n ce to d e ter m i n e w h e th er th e gravi tatio n a l

proper ties o f crys tals vary wi th di rectio n N o su ch v a riatio n .

was f o u n d in th e c as e o f c al c sp a r th e c rystal u n de r i n v e stiga

-

ti o n He she wed f u rther th a t t h e i n v e rse squar e la w h olds

.

good in th e n eigh bourh ood of a crystal to o n e fif t h per ce n t -

.

T wo years lat e r appe ared a n accou n t ( 1 96 ) o f a n i n vestigati o n

by Professors A usti n a d T h wi n g of th e U n i versity o f Wisco n
n

s in to d e t er m i n e wh e ther gravitatio al a ttractio n i s in d e p e n

n

d e n t o f th e i n terve i n g m edi u m th at is wh e ther th ere i s a

n , ,

gravit a tio na l per m e abili ty N o e fl e c t was fou n d d ue to t h e

.

m edi u m w ith i n th e li m i ts o f error o f th e m eth od .

At a m eeti n g o f t h e D e u t c h e r N atu rforsch er u n d A e r z t e

in B ru n swick in 1 8 9 7 Pro f essor D rude read a pap e r ( 1 9 5 ) o n
, ,

a ctio n a t a d ista n ce, w hi ch co n t ai n s a very val uable acco u n t of

t h e th eory o f gravitatio na n d sh o ul d be co n sul ted by a n
, y o ne

wish i n g t o fin d a b ri ef 1 é s u m é o f th at subj ect an d especially ,

for a d iscu ssio n o f th e v e l oci ty o f propagati o n of gravi tati o n .

T h e lates t work on t h e laws o f gravi tati o n is that of Profess

ors Poy n ti n g an d Gray ( 200) 0 11 th e search f o r a directive
actio n of o n e quartz crystal 0 11 a n oth er A s m a ll crystal was .

s u spe n ded an d i ts ti m e of rotati ve vibratio n n oted ; a large

crystal in th e sa m e h orizo n tal pl an e was th e n rotated abou t
a vertic al a x is th rou g h i ts ce n t re wi th a period ei t h er eq ual to ,

o r twice th at o f th e s m a l ler crystal

,
If th ere were a n y di rective
.

acti o n th e s m al l crystal sh oul d be set in vi bratio n by forced

oscillatio n s ; n o s u ch effec t was fo u n d .

1 42
 THE L A WS O F G R A V IT A T O IN

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1 43
 ME MO IRS O N

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9
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4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 i 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

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.

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8
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1 44
 TH E L A WS O F G R A V I TA T I O N

B IBLIO GR APHY

Th e n u mber s m a r ked wi th an as ter i sk h a ve n ot been con su l ted by th e e di to r .

1600 W . G il be r t . D e m ag n e to m ag n e t ic is q u e C o r p o r ib us et de
m ag n o m ag n e te te l l u r e p h y s io l o g ia n o v a . Lon
do n .

1665 F B ac o n
. O p e r a o m n ia Fran k f u r t /m . Fo l io — u
. .

1 687 I
N e w to n
. P h il o s o p h iae n a t u ra l is p r in ip ia m ath e m atic a
. c .

Lo n o n d .

1 705 R H o o k e Po s th u m o u s w o rk s L o n do n Fo l io
. . . . .

1 727 I
N e w to n
. D e m u n di s y s te m ate L o n do n . . .

1 744 R B o yl e .Wo r k s e dite d by B irc h 5 v o l L o n d o n Fo l io

.
, . . . .

1 749 P B o u g u e r . L a g u r e de l a t e r r e Pa r is . fi . .

175 1 C h M d e la C o n d am in e. Jo u r n al d a v oy ag e
. Par is . . .

1 752 4 C h M d e l a C o n d a m in e
—
. Su p p l em e n t an jo u r n al h is to r i u e
. . q .

2 p ar t s Par is . .

1 754 P B ou g u e r . Su r 1a d ir e c tio n q u a ff e te n t l e s fi ls a p lo m b
.
’
c - -
.

H ist de t A ea d R oy des 8 0 a r ea les M e m de

’ '

. . . . .

M a th et de Ph ys 1 10 a n d 1 50— 1 6 8 .
,
-

1 756 T Bir c h . T h e h is to ry o f t h e R o y a l So c ie ty o f L o n o n
. d .

4 vol Lo n o n . d .

1 76 9 J C o ul tau d
.
( Le tte r o f 3 0 Jou r n des 8 0 et des B ea m :
. . .

A r ts Ju n e . .

1 769 J d A l e m b e r t (L e tte r ) Jou r n des Sc et des B ea n s: A r ts Ju l y

’
. . . . . . .

176 1 — 80 J d A l e m be r t O p u s u le s m a th m ati u e s 8 v o l Par is

’
c é q .

d
. . .

fi
.

1 771 J P D av i . D is s e r tatio n s u r l a g u r e d e l a te r re
. .L a H ay e . .

1 771 M e r c ie r .
( L e t te r o f 27 p p ) Jou r n d es Sc e t d es B ea n s: . . .

A r ts Dec . .

1 772 G L Le sag e. . . So l u t io n s d e s ou te s Jou r n des Se et des B ea m ; d . . .

A r ts A p r il . .

1 772 J J La L an
. . d e . q
R e m ar u e s s u r d e n o uv e lle s e x p er ie n ce s d e
p e s an te u r L e Jo ur n a l des Sea oa n s A ug . . .

1 772 d e la P . de R o iff é E x p er ie n ce d u p e n d u l e d e le M e r ie r
. c au x

A l p e s d u V al ais . Jou r n a l E n y lop édi q u e 1 3 0 cc , ,

250 .

1 773 G L L e s ag e
. . . L e ttr e su r l a f au sse t é de de u x s u ite s d
’
e xp éri

en ce s [ Ros ier ] Jou r n

. . ( le Plays , 1 ,
249— 26 0 .

1 773 Fa th e r B e r t ie r ( L e t te r s ) [ Ros ier ] Jou r n . . de p kg

/s , 2 , 25 1 2 —

a n d 275 .

145
 ME MO IRS O N

1 773 de la P de R o iff e O b s e r v a tio n s s n r l e x p é r ie n c e d e p é re Be r t ie r

’
. . .

[ R o s ie r ] ‘Jo ur n d e P h ys 2 ,
3 74—
8 .
,
.

1 773 G L L esag e
. R é fle xio n s s u r u n e n o u v e l le e x p er ie n ce d u R é
. .

v é r e n d Per e B e r tie r
[ R osier ] Jou r n de Phys . .

2 3 78— 8 1 , .

1 774 . . d
J P D av i a n d Fa th e r s C o tte an d B e r tie r ( N o tic e o f th eir e x .

p e r im e n ts ) [ R os ier ] Jo ur n de P hys 4 , 3 38 . . .

1 774 J P D av i
. . d . é
R p o n s e a u x r é fl e x io n s d e M L e s ag e [R osier ] . .

Jou r n de Phys 4 43 1— 41 .
, .

1 774 A bb R o z ie r é O b se r v a tio n s s u r l a le t t r e d e P er e B e r tie r

. .

[ R o s i er ] J ou r n d e P h y ,
s 4 4 5 4 —
61 .
, .

1 774 Fa th e r B e r tie r .
( A cc o u n t of e x p e r im e n ts ) . Jou r n . de Ver du n ,
1 48— 1 85 .

1 775 J . P . d
Su r l a p e san te u r d e s c o r p s
D av i .
[ R o s i er ] Jour n de . .

Phys 5 129 1 3 9 , ,
—
.

1 775 Fat h e r Be r tie r ( Le tte r ) [ R os ier

] J o ur n
. d e P h y s 5 3 0 5.
— 1
3 .
,
.

1 775 ( A c o u n t o f e x p t s m a d e c
b y c o m o f A c a of
’
. . d .

o u r n de Ph ys 5 4 2 6
D ijo n ) [ R o s ie r
] J 3
. 1 —
.
, ,
.

1 775 C h e v d e D o l o m ie u . E x p er ie n c e s s u r l a p e s an t e u r d e s o r p s a
. c
iff r e n te s d é
is tan e s d u c e n tr e de la t e r r e d c .

[R o s ie r ] J o u r n d e P h y s 6 1 —
5 .
, ,
.

. k
1 775 N M as e ly n e A p r o p o s al f o r m e as u r in g th e a t t r ac tio n o f s o m e
.

h il l in ( h is k in g o m b y as tr o n o m ic al b se r v a d o
t io n s Ph i l Tr a n s L on a 495 9 . . .
-

k
1 775 N M as e ly n e A n a c o u n t o f o b s e r v a t io n s m a e o n t h e m o u n
. . c d
t ain Sc h e h all ie n f o r n in g its a ttr ac tio n P hil fi d . .

Tr a n s Lo n d 500— 42 . .
,
.

1 776 F A c h ar
. K . d
B e m e r k u n g e n fi be r die v o n H e r r n B e r tie r an
.

g e s te l l te n V e r s u h e B es e h af t d er B er t G es c . . . .

N a tu rf Fr e u n de 2 1 — 1 1 .
, , .

1 776 G L L e s ag e E x p er ie n c e s e t v u e s s u r l in t e n sité de l a p e s
’
. . .

a u te u r a n s l in té r ie u r d e l a t e r r e [ R os ider ]
’
.

Jou r n de Ph ys 7 , 1 — 12 . .

1 776 J P r in g l e D is co u r s su r l a tt r a c tio n de s m on tag n e s ; t r ad u it

’
. .

p ar M l e R oy [ R os ier ] Jou r n de P hys . . .

,

41 8 3 4 -

. é
1 777 Fath e r B er tie r R t ra c tio n d u Per e B e r tie r de l O r atoire s u r l a
’
,

c o n s eq u e n c e u il a t ir d e s o n e x p er ie n ce d u n q ’
é ’

c or p s p e s an t p l u s a n s 11 11 lie u h a u t q u e
, an s d d
un b as .
[ R osier ] Jou r n de . Phys , 9 460 ,

1 779 C H ut to n
. . An ac c ou n t o f th e c al c u l a tio n s m a e f rom th ed
su r v e y m e a s u r e s t ak e n a t
an d Sc h e h al l ie n in
o r de r t o a s e r t a in t h e m e a n c
e n s ity o f th e e ar th d .

Ph il Tr a n s L o n d 6 8 , 6 89— 788
. . .
, .

1 780 C H u t to n
. . C alc u l a tio n s to e te r m in e a t w h at p o in t in th e d
d
s i e o f a h il l its a tt r a tio n w ill b e th e g re ate s t c .

Ph il Tr a n s L on d 1 1 4
. . .
,
-

1 798 H C av e n ish
. d . E x p e r im e n ts to e te r m in e th e d d e n s ity of th e
e ar th Ph i l . 88 .
,
469— 526 .

1 46
 THE LAWS ‘

O F GRAV ITATI O N

( R e v ie w
B ibl B r i t 1 1 23 3— 41 of .
, .

L W G ilb er t
. V e r s u h e 11 111 d ie D i h tigk e it z u be s t im m e n ,
. . c , c
v o n H e n r y C a v e n d is h E s q
[ G i lber t] A n n de r , . .

Phys 2 1 — 6 2 , , .

A M o tt e . T h e m a th e m ati al p r in c ip l e s o f n at u r al p h i
. c
l o s o p h y b y Sir N e w ton tr an s l a te d in t o E n g l is h I .
,

b y A n re w M o tte t o w h ic h a r e a d e d N e w t o n s d , d ’

s y s te m o f t h e w o r l t
e c W D av is e d 3 “ d , . .
’
.

v ol Lon o n . d .

1 806 H W B r an e s
. . d
T h e o r e t is h e U n te r s u c h u n g e n u b e r d ie O s c ill a
. c
t io n e n d e r D r e h w aa g e b e i C a v e n d is h s V e r
’

s u c h e n fi be r d ie A tt r a t io n kle in e r M ass e n c .

M ag j it r den N eu es ten u sta n d der Na tu r k u n de . Z ,

1 2 3 00 3 1 0 ,
—
.

43 1 809 F X v o n ac h
. . Z
U e be r d ie M O g l ic h ke it die G e s t al t de r E r de
.

an s G r a d m e s s u n g e n z u be s tim m e n oM o n a tl . .

Cor r esp 2 0 , 3 9 ,
—
.

44 1 810 F X v on a h
. . Z c
U e b e r D e n s i tat de r E r de u n d e r e n E in fl u s s
. d
a u f g e o g ra p h is h e O r ts b e s t imm u n g e n M o n a tl c . .

Co r resp 2 1 293 3 1 0 ,
—
.

45 1 81 1 C H ut to n
. O n t h e al u l at io n s f o r as c e r ta in in g t h e m e an
. c c
d e n s ity o f t h e e ar th [ Til loch] Ph il M ag 3 8 . .
, ,

1 1 2— 6 .

46 1 81 1 J Pl ayf air
.
A c c o u n t o f a l it h o l og ic al s u r v e y o f Sc h e h al l ie n
.

m a e in o r d e r to d e te r m in e t h e s p e i d g r av ity c fic
o f t h e r oc k s w h i h o m p o s e t h a t m o u n tain c c .

P h il Tr a n s L on d 347— 77 . .
, .

47 1 8 12 C H u tto n
. T r ac ts o n m a t h e m a ti a l a n d p h ilo s o p h ical s u b
. c
j e c t s 3 v o l L o n do n . . .

1 81 3 L W G ilb e r t B e r ic h t v o n e in e r l it h o l o g is c h e n A u f n ah m e d e s
. . .

Sc h e h al l ie n u m d as s p e c ifis c h e G e w i h t de r ,
c
G e b ir g sar te n d e s s e lb e n 11 n d ar au s ( l ie m ittl e r e ,
d
c
D i h tig k e it cl e r E r d e z u b e s tim m e n v o n J Pl ay , .

f a ir E s q Pogy A n n 4 3 6 2 75 , . .
, ,
-

49 1 81 4 . . Z c
F X v o n a h L at tr a c tio n d e s m o n iag n e s e t se s e ff e ts s u r l e s
.
’

fil s a p l o m b o u s u r le s n iv e au x de s in s tr u m e n ts
d a s t r o n o m ie A v ig n o n
’
2 vol . . .

50 1 815 M C h o m p r é E x p er ie n c e s p o u r d ete r m in e r l a e n sit d e la

. . d é
p ar H e n r y C a v e n d is h T r ad u it d e l A n
’
te r r e .

g l a is Jo u r n de l E c R oy P o ly tech n i gn e C ah ie r
’ ’
. . . .

17 1 0 26 3 3 20
.
,
—
.

51 1 81 9 T Y ou n g
. . R e m ar k s o n th e p r o ba bilitie s in p h y s ic al o f e rr o r

o b s e r v at io n s an d o n t h e d e n s ity o f t h e e ar t h ,
.

Ph il Tr a n s L o n d 70 95 M is
. or ks, 2 8 28
.
,
—
cW .
,
—
.

52 1 820 C H u tto n
. .
( L e t t e r t o La p l ac e) [ B la i n r il le] Jou r n dc Phys . .
,

90 30 7—
12 , .

53 1 821 C . H u t ton . O n th e m ean d e n s ity o f th e e ar th .

[ Tilloch ]
Ph il . M ag , 58 , 3 13 —
.

1 821 C . H u t to n .
( Sam e t itl e as P h il Tr a n s L o n d
. .
, 276 — 292 .

1 47
 ME MO IRS O N .

55 1 824 F C ar l in i
. l u n g h e z z a d el p e n d o l o s e m
. O s se r v az io n i d el l a

p lic e f atte al l al te z z a d i m il l e i e s e s u l l iv e l l o d e l
’

m ar e E fif A s tr d i M ila n o a p p 28— 40
'
. .
, . .

56 1 825 S .
( Noti e o f [ Fer u ssac] B u ll des Sc Ma th c '

. .

3 298 3 01 ,
-

57 1 826 M W D r o bis c h
. D e v e ra l u n ae fig u r a
. L p i s ia e 12 m
. . . .

58 1 8 27 E S( a b in e )
. A n ac o u n t o f P r o f C a r lin i s e x p e r im e n ts o n
. c .
’

Q M o n t C e n is f Sc 2 4 1 5 3 —
9-

. uar t Jo u r n . . o , .

59 1 827 M . W . D r ob is ch Ue b e r d ie in d e n M in e n v o n D o lc o at h in C o rn
.

w a ll n e u e r l i h a n ge s te ll te n P e n de l be o b ac h t u n g c
en P oyg A n n 1 0 444 456 . . .
, ,
-

60 1 827 ( N o ti e o f D o l c o at h Ph il M ag c1 .
, ,

3 85 6 -

61 1 825— 45 J S T G e h ler
. . . . P h y sik al is c h e s WO r te r bu c h . 22 vol . L e ip
zig .

62 *
1 828 Ac c o u n t o f e x p e r im e n ts m a de at D o lco ath m in e
in C o r n w a ll i n 1 826 f o r th e p u r p o s e ,
an d 1 8 28 ,

o f d e te r m in in g t h e d e n s ity o f t h e e a r th C am .

b r id g e 8 V°
r in te d p r iv a te l y . . P .

63 1 828 M . W . D rob isc h . A u s f u h r l ic h e r B e r i h t iI b e r m e h r e re in d e n c ‘

Jah r e n 1 826 11 n d 1 828 in d e n M in e n v o n D o lc o at h

in C o r n w a ll z u r B e s tim m u n g d e r m itt le r e n D i h c
t ig k e it de r E r d e a n g e s te l l te P e n d e l v e r su h e c .

P ogg A n n 1 4 409— 27 .
, .

64 1 829 3 0 J C E Sc h m id t
. L e h r b u h d e r m a th e m a tis h e n u n d p h y
. . . c c
s is c e
h G eog p h i 2 l G O i 8
'

n r a c v o t i n ge n
vo
. . .

65 1 83 3 S . D P o isso n
. T r a ité d e i n é c a n iq u e .
d
2 ed “ 2 v o l Pa r is 8 . . . .

66 1 83 7 d e B e au m o n t E x t r a it d 11 11 i i i é m o ir e d e M R e i h s u r l a d e n
. . c
s ite d e l a t e r r e Co mp R en d 5 6 97 700 . .
,
—
.

67 1 83 8 F . Re i h c
V e rs u h e fi b e r d ie m il tl e r e D i h t ig k e it de r E r e
. c c d
m itt e ls t d e r D re h w ag e Fr e ibe r g . .

68 1 83 8 O n t h e r e p e titio n o f th e C a v e n d is h e x p e r im e n t ,

f o r e te r m in in g t h e m e a n d e n s ity o f t h e e a r t h d .

Ph il M ag 1 2 283 4 .
, ,
—
.

69 1 839 ( Sa m e titl e as M o n N o t Roy A str Soc . . . .

,

4 96 7 ,
—
.

70 1 840 C . I G iu l io
. Su r l a d ete r m in atio n d e l a e n s it m o y e n n e d e
. d é
l a te r r e d d u ite d e l o b s e r v a i io n d a p e n d u l e f a ite , é ’

a l H o s p ic e d u M o n t C e n is p ar M C ar l in i e n
’
-

Se p te m b re 1 821 M em A a d Tor i n o 2 , . . cc , ,

3 79 84 —
.

71 1 840 L . F M e n ab re a C a l u l d e l a e n s it d e l a t e r r e
. . M em A c a d c d é . . c .

Tor i n o 2 30 5 —
68 . ,
.

72 1 840 A . G . C a l u l d e la e n s it d e l a te r re p ar L F M e n a c d é , . .

b r e a B ibl Un iv de Gen eve [ n o u s ] , —

75 . . .
,
.

73 1 841 L . F M e n ab r e a O n C av e n ish s e x p e r im e n t
. . Ph il M ag d ’

.
,

1 9 6 2— 3 , .

74 1 842 J. F Sa ig e y
. D e n s ii é d u g l o b e R ee Sc ien t c l In d [ Qu es n e
. . . .

r il le ] 1 1 1 49 6 0 an d 242 5 3 a n d 1 2 3 73 — 88 . .
- —
. , .

1 48
 TH E L A WS O F G RAV I TA T I O N

F B a ily
. .. An a cc oun t o f so m e e x p e r im e n ts w ith t h e t o r
s io n r o d,
f o r d e te r m in in g t h e m e a n d e n s ity o f
-

t h e e a r th P h i l M ay
'

. 2 1 1 1 1 21 .
,
—
.

F Bail y. . R é s u l i a t s d e q u e l q u e s e x p er ie n c e s f a ii e s a v e l a c
c
b a l a n e d e t o r s io n p o u r d ete r m in e r l a d e n s it ,
é
m o y e n n e de l a t e r re A n n de O h i rn e t de h ys . . . P
5 , 3 3 8 53 —
.

F B a ily
. . Be r i h t c V e r s u h e n m it d e r D i c h
vo n e in ig e n c
w ag e z u r B e s tim m u n g d e r m it t le r e n D i h t ig k e it c
d e r E rd e Pogg A n n 5 7 453 6 7. .
, ,
—
.

F B aily
. .
( Sa m e t it le as Mo n N o t R oy A str Se e . . . . .
,

5 . 1 88 a n d 1 9 7—
206 .

F B aily
. . E x p e r im e n ts w it h t h e to rs io n r o d f o r d e te r m in -

in g t h e m e an d e n s ity o f t h e e a r t h Mem R ey . . .

A s tr S ec 1 4 1 1 20 a n d i c c x l v 1 n
.
,
—
.
—
.

A . G .

( S a m e i itl e as B ibl Un is d e Ge n er e, [ n ou n ] . .
,

4 3 , 1 77— 8 1 .

804 1 845 C A F
. . . Pe te r s V o n d e n k le in e n A b l e n k u n g e n d e r L o t h l in ie
u n d ( l e s N iv e a u s w e l h e d n r c h d ie A n z ie h u n
g ,
c
e n d e r So n n e , d e s M o n e s , n n d e in ig e r te r r e s d
t r is c h e n G e g e n tan d e h e r v o rg e ln a c h t w e r d e n
'

s
.

A s tr N a h 2 2 3 3 — 42
. c .
, , .

G . W . H e ar n . c
O n th e au s e o f t h e d is r e p a n c ie s o b s e r v e by c d
M r B ail y w ith th e C av e n d is h a p p a ra t u s f o r d e
.

i e r m in in g t h e m e a n d e n s ity o f th e e a r th Ph i l . .

Tr a n s L e n d 21 7 29 .
,
—

E . Sabin e . C o s m o s b y A le x a n d e r v o n H u m b o ld t t r a n s
, ,

l a te d u n de r th e s u p e r in te n d e n c e of L ie u i C o l .
-

E dw Sa b in e
ar d Ed 1 Lo n do n 8 .
"
. . .

83 1 852 F R e ic h
. . N e u e V e r s u c h e m it d e r D re h w aa g e L e ip A hh . . .

ma th p hy cl 1 3 83 43 0
. .
,
—
.

c
N e u e V e r s u h e i1 b e r d ie m ittl e r e D i h t ig k e it d e r
’

c
d
E r e v o n F Rei h ,
Pogy A n n 8 5 1 89 98 . c . . .
, ,
—
.

c
S h aar . R a p p o r t d e M S h aa r s n r n u m é i n o ir e d e M . c .

M o n t ig n y r e l a t if a u x e x p er ie n c e s p o u r d ete r
m in e r l a d e n s it d e la te rr e B u ll A a d R oy é . . c .

B elg 1 9 p t 2 476 — 81
, ,
.
, .

N o u v e l le s e x p er ie n c e s s u r l a e n s it m o y e n n e d é
d e l a te r re A n n dc C hi ns e t de Phys ,
. 3 8 . .
,

3 82— 3 .

F Rei h
. c . N ew e x p e r im e n t s o n th e m e a n d e n s ity o f th e
e art h . Ph il . hi ng , 5 , 1 54— 9 .

G B A iry
. . .
( R e p o r t on H a r to n M o n N ot R oy , . .

A s tr Se e 1 5 3 5— 6
.
, ,
.

G B . . A iry . c
N o t e r e s p e ti n g th e r e c e n t e x p e r i m e n t s i n t h e
H a r t o n C o ll ie r y M o n N o t R oy A str Sea , . . . . .

1 5 46 , .

90 1 855 ( R e p o r t 0 11 H ar to n Me n N ot Re y . . . .

A str Soc 1 5 1 25— 6

.
,
.

1 49
 ME MO IRS O N

N o te s ur l es o b s e r v a tio n s d n p e n du l e ex éc té u es

d an s l e s m in e s de H a r to n p o ur d ete r m in e r l a
é
d e n s it m o y e n n e d e l a t e r r e ; p ar M A ir y A n n . . .

de O h ii n e t de Ph ys 4 3 3 8 1— 3
.
, , .

E x tr a it d u r a p p o r t p r s e n t a l a 35m e s an e é é é c
an n i v e r s air e d e la So i t R o y a l e A s t r o n o m iq u e céé
d e L o n d r e s p ar l e o n s e il d e e tte s o i t le 9 c c céé
Fe v r ie r 1 855 , . c
A r h des Sc . . Ph ys . ci Na t 29 ,

1 88— 1 9 1 .

J H P r att
. . . O n th e a t l r ac t io n of t h e H im al ay a m o u n ta in s ,

an d o f th e e l e v a te d r e g io n s b e yo n d th e m ,
u p on

th e p l u m b lin e in I n d ia . Ph il . Tr an s . Le n d ,

1 4 5 53— 1 00 , .

G B A iry
. . . c
O n t h e o m p u tat io n o f t h e e ff e c t o f t h e at trae
t io n o f m o u n tain m as se s a s d is tu r b in g t h e a p

p ar e n t as t r o n o m i a l l a t it u d e o f s ta t io n s in c
g e o d
e t ic s u r v e y s Ph il Tr a n s L e n d 1 4 5 . . .
, ,

1 0 1— 4 .

T You n g
. . c
M is e lla n e o u s w e i k s an d l if e b y Pe ac o ck an d ,

L e it h 4 v olc Lo n do n
. . .

J H P r at t
. . .
( Sa m e t it l e as M on N ot R oy A s tr Se a . . . .
,

1 6 3 6 — 41 a n d 1 04— 5
, .

G B A iry
. . .
( Sam e t itl e as M o n N ot R ey A s tr Se a . . . .
,

1 6 42— 43 , .

( R e p o 1 t o n H a r to n M o n No t R oy . . .

A s tr Se a .
,

J H P r at t
. . c
O n t h e e ff e t o f l o al at tr a ti o n u p o n t h e p l u m b c c
l in e at s tat ion s o n t h e E n g l i h 11 1 0 o f t h e m e r id s

ia n b e t w e e n D u n n o s e an d B u r le ig h M o o r ; a n d
,

a m e th o d o f o m p u t in c
g its a m o u n t Ph i l Tr a n s . . .

L e n d 1 4 6 3 1 52 , .
—
.

G B A ir y
. . . A cc
o u n t o f p e n u lu m e x p e r im e n ts u n d e r tak e nd
in th e H ar to n C o ll ie r y f o r t h e p u r p os e o f d e ,

te r m in in g t h e m e a n d e n s ity o f th e e a r th P h il . .

Tr a n s Le n d 1 4 6 297 342
.
,
—
.

G B A iry
. . . Su p p l e m e n t to t h e ac o u n t o f p e n u l u m e x c d
d
p e r im e n ts u n e r tak e n in t h e H ar to n C o l l ie ry
cc
b e in g an a o u n t o f e x p e 1 im e n ts u n d e r tak e n
to d
e t e r m in e th e c
o r r e t io n f o r t h e t e m p e r at u r e c
of t h e p en d u lu m . P h i l Tr a n s L e n d
. .
, 146 ,

3 43— 55 .

k ( A d de n d u m
’

G G Sto
. . es . to 1 01 on th e e ff e c t o f th e e a r th s

r o ta t io n a n d e l l ip t imty in m o if y in g t h e d n u mer

ic al r e s u l ts o f the H a 1 to n e x p e r im e n t) . Ph i l .

Tr a n s L e n d 1 4 6 3 53— 5 .
, .

H Jam e
. s an d A R C l a r k e . O n t h e d e e c t io n o f th e p l u mb
. fl
l in e a t A r th u i s Se a t a n d t h e m e a n s p ec ifii ,

g r a v it y o f t h e e a r th P h i l T r a ns L e n d 1 4 6 . . .
,

59 1 6 06 -
.

1 50
THE L A WS O F GRA VITATIO N

H Ja m es
. . O n th e fig ure , dim e n s ion s
m e an s p e c i an d fic
g r av it y o f t h e e ar t h a s d e r iv e d f r o m t h e o r d ,

c
n a n e t r ig o n o m e t r i a l s u r v e y o f G r e a t B r ita in c
an d I
re la n d Ph il Tr a n s Le n d , 1 4 6 6 07— 26
. . .
, .

U e be r d ie in d e r o h l e n g r u b e v o n H a r t o n z ur K
B e s t im m u n g d e r m it t le r e n D ic h te ( l e r E r d e u n
t e r n o m m e n e n P e n de l b e o hac h t u n g e n ; v o n G B . .

A ir y P eyy A n n 9 7 599 6 05
. .
, ,
-

S H au g h t o n
. O n t h e d e n s ity o f t h e e a r th d ed u c e d f r o m t h e ,

e x p e r im e n ts o f t h e A s t r o n o m e r R o y al in t h e ,

B a r t o n o al p it c Ph il M a g -
1 2 50— 1
. .
, , .

G B A iry
. . .
( S a m e ti t l e as P h i l M a g 1 2 2278 31 . .
, ,
-
.

H Jam es. . c
A c o u n t o f t h e o bs e r va tio n s an d c o m p u tatio n s
m ade f o r th e p ur p o s e o f as ce r tain in g th e am o u n t
flc
o f th e d e e tio n o f t h e p l u m b l in e a t A r t h u r s
-
’

Se a t an d th e m e an s p e c i c g ra v ity o f t h e e ar th
,
fi .

Ph il M ag . 1 2 , 3 14 6 ,
-
.

G B A i ry
. . .
( S m e t e as
a i t l P h il M g a 12 4 67 8—
. , .

c
U e b e r d ie D i h tig k e it d e r E r e h e rg e l e i te t a us d ,

s
d e n V e r u c h e n d e s K on ig l A s t r o n o m e n ( B r u . .

A ir y ) in d e r o h l e n g r u be H a r t o n K v o n Sr E h r .

w ii r d Sa m u e l H a u g h t o n Fe l l o w d e s T r in ity
.
,

C o l l eg e in D ub l in P eyg A n n 9 9 3 3 2— 4 . .
, , .

G B A iry
. . . O n t h e p e n d u l u m e x p e r im e n ts la te ly m a e in d
th e H a r t o n C o l l ie ry f o r as c e r ta in in g t h e m e a n ,

d e n s ity o f th e e ar th A m Jou r n 8 s 21 . . .
, ,

3 59 6 4 —
.

E . R . é
M m o ire s u r le s e x p e r i e n c e s e n te r p r ise s a n s l a d
m in e d e H ar to n p o u r d te r m in e r 1a e n s it é d é
m o y e n n e d e l a te r r e p a r G B A iry A r h des , . . . c .

Sc Phys e t N a t 3 5 1 5— 29
. .
, .

U e be r d ie D ic h tig k e it de r E rd e h e r g e le ite t au s ,

d e n P e n d e l be ob ac h t u n g e n d e s H e r r n A ir y in
dc r K
o h l e n g r ub e H ar t o n v o n H er r n S H a u g h .

to n Fe l l o w a m T r in ity C o l le g e in D u bl in
, ei l -
. Z .

f il r M a th a P h y s 2
. 6 8—
70 .
, , .

U e b e r die B est imm u n g de r m it t le re n D i h tig k e it c

d e r E rd e e i l f il r M a th a
. Z Phys 2 1 28 30
. . . . ,
-
.

( Sa m e titl e as Pree Re y Se c E din 3 . . . .

, ,

3 64 6 -
.

( N o tic e of A m Jou r n Sc . . 2 4 1 58 ,
.

H Jam es. .
( Sa m e t itl e as Ph il M a y .
, 1 3 1 29 3 2 ,
—
.

W S Jaco b . . . 0 11 t h e c a u s e s o f t h e g r e a t v ar ia tio n a m o n g t h e
d iff e r e n t m eas u r e s o f t h e e ar th s m e a n e n s ity
’
d .

Phil . M ag .
, 13 , 525 8 —
.

G B A ir y
. . .
( Sa m e titl e as P r e s R oy Soc L e n d . . . 8 ,

58— 9 .

H Jame s
. .
( Sa m e t itl e as P r e c R ey Sec L e n d . . .
, 8 ,

1 1 1— 6 .

1 51
 ME MO IRS O N

1 85 7 W . S Jac o b
. .
( Sam e titl e as P r ee R oy Soc L a nd . . . 8 ,

295 9 —
.

1 8 58 G B A iry
. . .
( Sa m e titl e as Pr e c . R e y In st 2 1 7— 22
.
, .

1 858 ( Sa m e t i t le as Mo n . N o t Rey A str Se c . . .

1 8 220 , .

( Sa m e t it le as M e n N e t R e y A s tr Se a . . . .
,

1 8 220 2 .
—
.

1 858 H Ja m es an d A R C la r k e O r n an e t r ig o n o m e t r i a l Su r ve y
. . . . d c c
o f G re a t B r ita in an d r e l an d A c o u n t o f th e I . c
o b s e r v a t io n s a n d al u la t io n s o f t h e p r in ip a l c c c
t r ia n g u l a t io n a n d o f t h e fig u r e d im e n s io n s a n d ,

m e a n s p e ifi g ra v ity o f t h e e ar th as e r iv e c c d d
th er e from 2 vol L o n on 4 0
. . d . .

( Sa m e t it l e as M o n N ot R ey A s tr Sea . . . .
,

1 9 1 94 9 ,
—
.

1 859 P F J G os s e lin N o u v e l e x a m e n s u r l a d e n s it m o y e n n e d e l a
. . . . é
te r r e M em A a d Imp dc M e tz 7 46 9 85 . . c .
, ,
—
.

1 859 60 E Se r g e n t Su l la e n s ité d e l la m a te r ia n e l l in t o r n o d e l
. . d .
’

g l o b o e s u ll a p o te n z a d e l la r o s ta te r r e s tr e A tti ,
c .

del la Se c Ita l di Sc N a t M il a n e 2 , 16 9 1 75 . . . .
,
—
.

186 1 O . Str u v e . Ue be r e i nen von G e n e r a l Sc h u b e r t an d ie A k a

d e m ie g e r i h t e te n A n tr ag be t r e fi e n d d ie R u s c
s is h c
Sc a n d in a v isc h e M e r id ia n G ra m e s s u n g
o
d .

B u l l A a d St P eter sb p h ys m a th c l
. c 3 395 . . . .
, ,

424 .

1 86 3 H A E A Fay e
. . . . Su r l e s in s t r u m e n ts g o s iq u e s e t s u r l a
. é dé
d e n s it m oy e n n e d e l a te r r e é Com p Re a d 5 6 . .
, .

55 7 6 6 —
.

1 86 4 E P e c h m an 11
. . D ie A b w e i h u n g d e r L o th lin ie b e i a s tr o n o c
c
m is h e n B e o b a h t u n g s s ta t io n e n 11n d ih r e B e c
c
r e h n u n g a l s E r f o r d e r n is s e in e r G r a d m e s s u n g .

D e n h schr A a d Wiss Wis /i m a th n a tu r w cl . c . .

-

. .
,

2 2 41 88 ,
—
.

1 86 4 J B ab in e t
. . N o t e s u r le c al c u l de l
’
e Xp é r ie n c e d e C a v e n dis h ,
r e l a t iv e a la m as s e cl a la d e n s it ém o
y e n n e de l a
t e r re . Cos m os , 24 ,
543 5 —
.

1 86 5 J H P r at t
. . . A t r e a tis e on a tt ra c ti o ns, L a p la e c ’
s f u n c tio n s ,

an d t h e fig u re o f t h e e a r t h .
d
3 Ed “
. . C a m br i g e d
Lon o n an d d .

1 86 5 H . Sc h e ffl e r U e be r d ie m itt le re D i h tig k e it de r E r e Ze it
. c d .
.

M h 11 Phy s 1 0 224 7
j itr l t . .
, ,
—
.

1869 A . c
S h e ll Ue b e r d ie Be s t im m u n g de r m ittle re n D ic h tig k e it
.

d e r E rde t tin g e n . .

1 872 F . Fo lie Su r l e a l u l d e la d e n s it m o ye n n e d e l a te r re
. c c é ,

d a p r es le s o b s e r v a t io n s d A iry B u l l A a d R ey
’ ’
. . c .

B ela 3 3 3 6 9— 3 72 a n d 3 89— 409 , , .

1 873 A . C or n u e t J B B a il l e D ete r m in a t i
.o n n o u v e l l
. e de l a c o n ~
.

s ta n te d e l a t tr a c tio n e t d e l a d e n s ité m oy e n n e d e
’

l a te r r e C omp R e a d 7 6 954— 8 . .
, , .

1 53
 THE L A WS O F GR AVITATIO N

13 8 *
1 873 ( No ti
B u ll H ebd dc l A sse c S ien t de c e o f 1 37 .
’
. c .

e 1 2 70 Fr a n c , , .

1 39 1 873 A C o r n u a n d J B B a il le M u t u a l d e te r m in a t io n o f t h e c o n
. . . .

s t a n t o f a t tra t io n a n d o f t h e m e a n e n s ity o f c ,
d
th e e a r t h Ch em i a l N ew s 2 7 21 1 . c , , .

1 40 1 873 I . d
T o h u n te r A h is t o r y o f t h e m a th e m at i a l t h e o r ie s o f a t
. c
t r a t io n a n d t h e fig u r e o f th e e a r th f ro m t h e c ,

t im e o f N e w t o n t o t h a t o f L a p l a e 2 vo l L o n c . .

do n . 8
1 41 1 878 A . C o rn u
J B B a ille Et u de de l a r es is ta n c e d e l air d a n s
et . . .
’

la b a la n e d e t o r s io n Co mp R e a d 8 6 5 71 4 c . .
,
—
.

1 42 1 8 78 A C o r n u c t J B B a il le
. Su r la m e s u r e d e l a d e n 8 1 t m o y e n n e
.
. . . é
d e l a te r r e Co mp Re a d 8 6 6 99 702 . .
, .
—
.

1 43 1 878 A C o r n u e t J B B a ill e
. n fl u e n e ( l e s t e r m e s p r o p o r t io n e l s a u
. . . I c
car ré de s a r t s d a n s le m o u v e m e n t o s il la t o ir e éc , c
d c l a b a l an e d e to r s io n Co mp R e nd , 8 6 c . .
,

1 00 1 4 -
.

1 44 1 878 P h v o n Jo l ly D ie A n w e n d u n g d e r Waag e a u f Pro b l e m e d e r

. .

G ra v ita t io n Pa r t 1 A bh B ay A h a d Wiss cl . . . . .

2 1 3 A bth 1 1 5 7 176 . ,
.
,
—
.

1 45 1 878 P h v o n Jo l ly ( Sa m e t it le a s
. Wied A n n 5 , 1 12 3 4
.
—
.

146 1 879 J H Poy n tin g O n a m e t h o d o f us in g t h e b a la n e w it h g re a t

. . . c
d e li a y a n d o n its e m p l o y m e n t to d e t e r m in e cc ,

t h e m e a n d e n s ity o f th e e ar t h . P r ue R e y Se c . . .

Le nd , 28 . 2— 3 5 .

1 46 % 1 880 H A E A Faye
. Su r le s v a r ia t io n s s
. . . . éc u l a ir e s d e l a fig u r e
m at h m a t i u e d e la te r re é q . Co mp R an d , 9 0 .
,

1 1 85 — 9 1 .

1 47 1 8 80 H A E . . . A . Fa y e . Su r l a r é d n c t io n d e s o bs e r v at io n s d u p e n
d u le au n iv e au d e la m er Comp R en d , 9 0
. .
,

1 443 6 -
.

1 48 1 8804 F R
H elm er t . D ie m a th e m atis h e n 11 n d p h y s ikalis h e n
. . c c
T h e o r ie e n d e r h b h e r e n G e o d as ie 2Vol L e ip . .

z ig .

1 48 } 1 880 5 0
1 a n o t t i B ia n o
-

. Z
Il p ro b le m a m e an i o d e l la fig u r a e l la
-

c . cc c d
te r r a 2 p a r ts Fire n z e T o r in o R o m a 8 . .
-
-
.

1 49 1 880 A R C l a r e G e o d e s y
. .O x f o rd k . . .

1 880 O no f
p U . K
e be r die M e t h o d e n z u r B e s tim m u n g d e r m it t le r e n
.

D i h t ig k e it d e r E r d e Je n a c . .

150 1880 T C M e n de n h al l D e te r m in a tio n o f t h e a e le r a tio n d u e to th e

. . . cc
f o r e o f g r a v ity a t T o k io Ja p a n A m Jo u r n c , , . . .

Sc 2 0 1 24 3 2 , ,
-

. . d
1 5 1 1 88 1 T C M e n e n h al l O n a d e te r m in a tio n o f th e f o r c e o f g r a v ity .

a t t h e s u m m it o f Fu jiy am a Ja p an A m Jo u r n ,
. . .

Sc 2 1 99— 1 03 , .

1 52 1 881 F e ll e r . K
Su ll a im in u z io n e e l la
.
g r a v i ta c o l l a l te z z a d d ’
.

A tti A ca d L i n ei rlf em cl so 9 1 03 1 7 c c . . .
,
—
.

1 53 1 88 1 P h v o n Jo l ly ( Sa m e titl e a s
. Pa r t 2 A hh B ay A lea d
. . . . .

Wiss cl 2 1 4 A bth 2 3 — 26 . . . .
, .

1 53
 ME MO IRS O N

Ph .
( S m
v on
a e t itl eJo lly
a s W. ie d A n n 1 4 3 3 1 —
55 , , .

J G Wal le n tin
. U e be r d ie M e th o e n z u r B e s tim m u n g d er
. . d
m it t l e re n D ic h te d e r E r e 11n d e in e n e u e ies d d
b ez fi g l ic h e A n w e n u n g d e r Wag e H u m bold t d .
,

1 212— 7 , .

1 55 1 882 R v o n Ste r n e c k
. U n te r s u c h u n g e n fi be r d ie Sc h w e r e im Ih
.

n er n de r E r e M il ih M il Geog I n st ie n , 2 d . . .
-
. . W ,

77— 1 20 .

1 56 1 883 R v o n Ste r n e
. Wie e r h o l u n g de r U n te r s u ch u n g e n fi be r die
ck . d
Sc h w e r e im n n e r n d e r E r e M itth [ W it Geog I d . .
-
.

In s t Wien 3 59 94 .
, ,
-

1 57 1 883 J B B ail l e
. Su r 1a r esis t an c e d e l air an s l e s m o u v e m e n ts
. .
’
d
o s c ill a to ir e s t r es l e n t s Comp R en d 5 . .
-

1 58 1 884 R v o n Ste r n e c k
. U n te r s u h u n g e n fi b er d ie Sc h w e re a u f der
. c
Er e M itl h M il Geog In st Wien 4 89 1 55 d . .
-

. .
, ,
-

1 59 1884 A K fin ig an d F R ic h ar z
. E in e n e u e M e t h o ds z u r B e s t im m u n g
. .

d e r G r a v itat ion s c o n s t an te Si tz u n ysb A ka d . .

Wiss B er l i n 1203 5 .
,
-

1 6 0 1 885 A K b n ig an d F R ic h arz
.
( Sam e t itl e as . Wed A n n .

2 4 664 8 ,
-
.

1 6 1 1 885 A M M aye r. M e t h o d s o f e te r m in in g th e e n s ity o f t h e e ar th

. . d d .

N a tu r e 3 1 408 9 , ,
-

1 62 1 885 A K fin ig a n d F R ic h a r z
. R e m a r k s o n o u r m e t h o o f d e te r
. . d
m in in g t h e m e an e n s ity o f t h e e ar th N a tu r e d .
,

3 1 , 484 .

1 885 J Wil s in g
. U e b e r d ie A n w e n u n g de s P e n e l s z u r B e s tim
. d d
m u n g d e r m ittl e r e n D ic h t ig k e it d e r E rde Si te .

u n g sb A h a d W iss B e r li n b d 1 13 15 . .
, ,
-

1 6 4 1 885 R v o n Ste rn e ck
. Fo r ts e tz u n g d e r U n t e r s u h u n g e n fi be r d ie
. c
S h w ere a n f de r E r e c
M il ih M il Geog I n s t d . . .
-
. .

Wie n 5 77 105 , ,
-

1 6 5 1 886 R v o n Ste r n ec
.
( Sam e t itle a s kM itth M il Geog In s t
. . .
-

. .

Wien 6 97 1 1 9 , ,
—
.

1 6 6 1 886 W M H ic k s . O n s o m e irr e g u lar itie s in t h e v al u e s o f t h e

. .

m e an e n s ity o f t h e e a r t h as e te r m in e by d ,
d d
B a ily Pr e c 0a m Ph il Se a 5 p t 2 1 56 6 1 . . . .
, , .
,
-
.

1 6 7 1 886 F e ll e r
. K Su l m e to o d i Jo l ly p e r la e te r m in a z io n e e ll a
. d d d
e n s ita m e d ia e l l a te rr ad A tti A a d Lin cei d . cc .

R en d 2 1 45 9 , ,
-

1 6 8 1 887 F e l le r
. K
Su l l a d e v ia z io n e de l filo a p io m b o p r o o tta d al
. d
p r os c iu g a m e n t o d e l L ag o d i Fu in o A tti A cca d c .

L i n cei R e n d 3 493 501 . ,

,
—
.

1 6 9 1 887 J Wils in g
. M itt h e il u n g u h e r d ie R e s u l t a te v o n P e n de l b e o
.

bac h tu n g e n z u r B e s ti m m u n g d e r m itt le r e n D ic h
t ig k e it d e r E r d e Sitz u ngsb A h a d W iss B er li n . . .
,

b d 1 3 27— 3 4 .
, .

1 70 1 887 J Wils in g
. B e s tim m u n g d e r m ittl e re n D i h t ig k e it de r E r e
. c d
m it H fil f e e in e s P e n de l a p p a r ate s Publ A str o . .

p yh s O b s P o ts da m 6 S tfi c k 2 3 5 —
1 27 . .
, , , .

1 54
 THE L A WS O F G R A VI T A T I O N

1 888 J H Go re
. . . D e te r m in a tio n o f t h e m e an e n s ity o f t h e e ar th d
b y m e a n s o f a p e n d u l u m p r in ip le b y J Wil c , .

s in g t r an s l a te d a n d c o n e n s e d
, Sm ith s o n ian d .

R e p 1 88 8 6 3 5 46
. .
-

1 889 J . Wils in g .
( Sam e t it le as Publ A s tr op hys O bs P e ts . . .

da m 6 Stfi c k 3 1 3 3 9 1
, , ,
—
.

1 88 9 W . Las k a . U e b e r e in e n n e u e n A p p a ra t z u r B e s tim m u n g
de r E r ic h te eit dd
f ur In s t K u n de 9 . Z . .
-
.
, ,

3 54 5 -
.

1 889 J H G o re
. . . A b ibl io g ra p h y of g e o d e sy . Was h in g t on .

A pp . to U . S C o as t . an d Geo d . Su r v . R e p f or .

1 8 87 .

1 889 C V B oy s
. . . O n t h e C av e n dis h E x p e r im e n t . Pr ec . R oy Soc . .

Le nd ,
46 , 3— 6 8
252 .

C
1 889 90 —
V B o y s C (
. Sa m e t it
. l e a s N a t
.u r e —
9 ,

1 889— 90 J Jo l y ( R e p o r t o f m e e tin g o f U n iv E x p tl A s soc

. . . . .

D u b l in ) N a t ur e .
,

1 889— 9 1 C o l le c tio n d e m m o ir es r e l a t if s a l a p h ys i u e , é q
p u bl i s p a r l a So c i t F r an c s e d e Ph y s i u e ,
a i é éé q
4 and 5 Par is . .

1 890 T h ie se n D et e r m in at io n d e la v ar iat io n d e l a p e san te u r

.

a v ec l a h a u te u r Tra y e t M em d u B u r I n ter n a t . . . . .

des Poids et M es 7 3— 3 2 .

1 89 1 J H
. . Po y n t in g . O n a d e te r m in a t io n of th e m e a n d e n s ity o f
t h e e a r t h an d t h e g r av ita tio n c o n sta n t by m e a n s
of th e c om m o n b a lan c e . Ph il . Tr a n s . Le n d ,

[ A ] 1 8 2 5 6 5 6 56
, ,
—
.

1 893 A . B e rg e t . D ete r m in a tio n e x p r im e n ta l e de l a c o n s t a n te d e é

l a t tr ac tio n u n iv e r s e ll e a in s i q u e d e l a m as s e e t
’

d e l a e n s it d e l a t e r re d Co mp R en d , 1 1 6 é . .
,

1 50 1 3 —
.

1 893 G ouy . Sur l a r eal isa tio n d e s te m p e ratu r e s c o n s tan te s .

Comp R e a d 1 1 7 96 7 .
,
—
.

1 893 F R ic h ar z
. und 0 K r 1g a i Me n z e l
. D ie A b n ah m e d e r S h w e r e -

. c
m it d c r Hoh e b e s t i m m t d u r h Wag u n g e n Si te c .

B e r li n 1 6 3 8 3
u n ysb . A lan d . Wiss .
,
-

1 894 F . R ic h a rz u n d 0 K 1 ig a i M e n z e l ( Sam e title as

. ied .
W .

A n n 5 1 559 8 3 , , .

1 894 J. H Po y n t in g
. T h e m e a n d e n s ity o f th e e ar t h L o n d o n 8
. . .

1 894 J. H P o y n tin g
. A h is te 1 y o f t h e m e th o d s o f w e ig h in g t h e
.

e ar t h Pr e B i r m in gh a m N a t H ist a n d Ph i l . c . . . .

Se a 9 1 —
23 , ,
.

1 894 G . Fr e s o r f d
D ie M e th o d e n z u r B e s t im m u n g d e r m it tl e r e n
.

D i h t e d e r E r de Wiss B eilage z u m Jah r esb des

c . . .

G ym eu Weissen bu r g i E lsa ss . . .

1 894 C . V B oys . O n t h e N e w t o n ia n c o n s ta n t o f g r av ita tio n P r e

. . c .

R ey Se c L e n d 5 6 1 3 1 2 . .
, ,
—
.

1 894 C . V B o y s.
( Sa m e t itl e a s. N a tu r e 5 0 ,
3 3 0 4 , 3 6 6 —
8, ,
—

417 9 an d 571 -
.

1 55
M E MO IRS O N THE L A WS O F G RAV I T A T I O N

1 89 1 895 C . V B o ys . .
( Sa m e t itle as Ph il . Tr a n s . Le n d , [ ]
A ,

186 ,
1 72—
.

1 90 1 895 A . S M ac
. k e n z ie . 0
t h e a t tra tio n s o f c r y s ta l l in e a n d is o t ro p ic
11 c
m as s e s a t s m al l is ta n e s P hy R es , 2 , 3 21 d c . .

43 .

191 1 896 F R ic h a rz
. und 0 K r ig ar M e n z e l
. G r a v itat io n s c o n s tan te u n d
-

c
m it tl e r e D i h t ig k e it d e r E r d e b e s tim m t d u r h ,
c
Wag u n g e n Sitz u n gsb A lsa d Wiss B er l i n . .
,

1 3 05— 1 8 .

1 89 6 R . v on E b tv b s . U n te rs u c h u n g e n fi b e r G r av ita tio n t1 u d E rd
m a g m e t is m u s J
i
f i ed A n n 5 9 3 5 4 400 .
.
—
.

1 89 6 C B rau n
. . D ie G r a v ita t io n s c o n s t a n te d ie M as s e 11 n d m itt ,

c
l e r e D i h te d e r E r d e n a h e in e r n e u e n e x p e r i c
m e n t e l l e n B e s ti m m u n g D e n h sch r A l m d Wiss . . .

Wien m a th n a tu r w cl 6 4 1 87 2580
. .
-

. .
, ,
—
.

M 96 3 v
T h e g r a itat io n o n s ta n t a n d th e m e an d e n s ity c
o f t h e e ar th N a tu r e 5 5 29 6 .
, , .

1 95 1 897 P D ru
. d e . U eb e r Fe r n e w it k u n g e n Wied A n n 6 2 i . .
, , .

1
x l ix .

1 96 1 897 L . W . A u s tin an d C B Thw m g . A n e x p e r im e n tal r e s e ar h o n

. . c
g r av ita tio n al p e r m e a b ility P hy R ec 5 294 . .
,

3 00 .

1 96 1
—
2 1 897 9 -

S G i1 u t h e r
.
’

. H a n d b u h d e r G eo p h y s ik c
2 v ol Stu ttg ar t . . .

1 97 1 89 7 J H P ( o y n tin g )
. . . A ne w d e t e r m in a t io n o f th e g r a v ita tio n

c o n s ta n t a n d . th e mean d e n s ity o f th e e ar t h .

N a tu r e 5 6 1 27 8 , ,
-

1 98 1 898 F R ich arz

. und 0 K r ig a r M e n z e l
.
-
B e s tim m u n g d e r G r av it a
.

tio n s c o n s ta n te n n d m it tl e r e n D i h tig k e it d e r c '

E r d e ( l u r h Wan t i n gc n A n h a ng A bh A ka d c . .

Wiss B er l i n 1— 1 96 .
, .

1 99 1 898 F R ic h ar z ti n d O K r ig a r M e n z e l
. ( Sa m e tit l e a s . Wied -
. .

Ann 6 6 1 77 1 93 ,
-

200 1 899 J H P oy n tin g an d P L G ra y

. . A n e x p e r im e n t i n s e a r c h o f . . .

a ir e c t iv e a t io n o f o n e u a r t z d
r y s ta l o n a n c q c
o th e r Ph il Tr a n s Le n d , [ A ] , 1 9 2 245— 56 . . .
, .

156
 IND E X

B a u e r n f e in 1 24 d
d
, .

c
A h ar 49 , . B ea u m o n t 1 16 , .

A ir y 5 , 1 06 1 1 3 1 1 8 1 1 9 1 21 1 24 -

B e r g e t 1 24 1 3 4 13 5
d
. , . . , , . , .

1 28— 1 30 ; T h e o ry o f C a v e n is h E x B e r t i e r 47— 49
p e r im e n t 1 06 1 1 8 ; D o lc oath E x , ,
B os c o m tc h , 1 3 4 .

p e r im e n t s 1 1 3 ; H ar to n E x p e r i B o u g u e r 5 21 23 25 27 3 2 3 3 3 6 -

, , , , , . , , ,

m e n ts 1 21 3 9— 44 47 5 3 56 1 3 0 1 3 4 ; O n
d
.
, , , , , ,

A r th u r s Se a t 1 1 8 1 23 1 24 T i e s , 44, 13 4 ; L ife o f , 44 ; Fir s t

’

c cc
.
, , ,

A ttr a tion N e w to n s T h e o r e m s o n t o T a k e A o u n t o f B u o yan cy o f

’

N c
, ,

e w to n s E r ro r in C al u l a t io n A ir 26
’
9 ,
.

of 1 6 1 7 ; P r im itiv e 27 ; O f a B oy le 4
c
,
.
, , ,

Pl a te a u 29 3 2 ; O f a S p h e r i al —
B o y s 1 06 1 3 5 1 3 7 1 3 9 1 42 ,
—

c
, , , . .

Se g m e n t C a l u la te d b y N e w to n , B ra n d e s 105 1 06 1 20 :T h e o ry o f
c
, , ,
,

1 7 ; b y C a r l in i S h m id t a n d G iu C a v e n d is h E x p e r im e n t 1 06 ; T h e
c
, ,

l io 1 1 1 1 1 2 ; S h o w n b y D e fl e t io n
, , o ry o f O s c il la t io n M e th o d 1 05 , ,

o f P l 1 1 m b l in e 3 3 — 43 ; O f C h im b o -

,
1 06 1 20 ,
.

r az o 3 4 3 9 ; O f Sc h e h a l l ie n , 43
, , ,
B ra u n 1 06 1 3 8 1 3 9
, , , .

5 3 56 ; D u e to T id e s 44 1 34 ; O f
-

c
, ,

H i l l C a l u l a t e d by H u t t o n
an
y ,

54 O f th e G 1 e at P y 1 a m id 55 ;
c
, ,

L o al 56 1 22 1 24 1 26 1 3 4 1 3 5 ,
—
, , , , C a r lin i 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 28
.
-

,
.

1 41 ; O f M o u n t M im e t 56 ; O f C a v e n d is h 5 4 5 5 59 90 9 1 98 1 00
c
, , , , . , , , ,

M as s B e n e a t h E a r th 8 Su r fa e 56
’

, 1 05 107 1 1 4
-

119
c
, . ,

O f A r th u r s Se at 1 1 8
’

, , 1 3 6 1 3 9 ; E r ro r in C a l u lat io n o f
,

O f Ev a u x 1 1 8 ; o r a 1 00 1 05 ; L i f e o f 107
I
.
, ,

C o n e 1 28 ; O f a n n fin ite P l an e ,
, C h im b o r a z o 22 34 39— 41 43 , , . ,
.

135 . C la r k e 5 6 1 1 8 1 23 1 24
, , , , .

A u s tin an d Th w in g 1 42 , . C o n d a m in e d e l a 21 28 3 2 3 6 3 9 , . , , , ,

41 43 44 ; Pe n d u l u m E x p e r im e n ts
, .

of 28 ; M e th o d o f f o r D o u b l in g
flc
, ,

B ab in e t , 106 D e e tio n o f P l u m b l in e 3 6 -

c
. .
,

B a o n 1 2 5 49 1 13 , , , .
, C o r n u a n d B a ille 6 6 , 1 06 1 1 5 1 19 . , , ,

B aily 1 00 1 05 1 06 1 1 5 1 20 1 25
, , , ,
-

, , 1 24 1 25 1 3 1 1 35
, , , .

1 3 1 1 3 3 1 3 7 ; C a v e n d is h E x p e r i
—
C o t t e 48
c d
, , .

m e n t C r iti iz e b y 105 E r ro r o f C o tto n 4

d
, ,

c
.
,

Po in te d o u t b y C o r n u a n d Bail le , C o u lo m b B al an e Fir s t Pr o p os e b y
c
,

1 1 9 A n o m a l ie s in R e s u l ts o f a n d , M i h e ll, 6 0 .

t h e ir E x p l an a t io n s 1 1 8 1 1 9 Co u l ta u d 47 48 1 1 1 .

c
.
, .
, , ,

B a l a n e E x p e r i m e n t s w it h B e a m
, ,

2 5 48 49 1 25 1 3 2 1 40 E x p e r i
-

. . . , .

m e n ts W it h T o r s io n 59 1 05 1 1 4 —

c
, ,

1 21 1 24 1 3 5 1 3 7 1 3 9 1 42 ; M i h D A l e m b e r t 3 1 47
’
—
. .
, . . . .

e l l D e v is e d T o r s io n 6 0 :E x p e r i D a m p in g Meth od o f Fin d in g A,
d c
, ,

m e n ts w ith Pe n u l u m 1 3 1 , 1 32 , . 1 3 8 1 41 , 1 42 ; E ff e t
,
o f, 139 .

1 57
 I ND E X
d
D av i 47— 49 D e c r e as e o f ith He ig h t 27 3 3 , w -

fl c
, , ,

D e e tio n o f A r m o f To r sion B al 47
c
.

an e H o w M e as u r e d b y C a v e n 1 40 ; L aw o f n c re ase o f w ith I
d
,

I c
,
,

is h 6 4 9 8 ; b y R e ic h 1 1 6 1 1 9 ;
. , , . D e p th 129 1 3 0 ; n re ase o f , w it h
, ,

b y B a il y 1 1 7 1 1 9 132 1 3 3 ; b y T e m p e r a t u r e 1 3 1 ; M at h e m a t i a l c
r d
, . , ,

c
,

B ra u n 1 3 8 A ff e t s t h e Pe io
.
'

. c
D is u s s io n o f f r o m P o te n t ial 1 87 , , .

97 ; E r r o r 1 11 B aily s M e t h o d o f G 1 ay , 1 42
’

d
.

O b s e r v in g 1 19 1 25 ; M u l tip l ie , . Gii n t h e 1 , 13 1 , 1 41 .

b y Po y n t in g 1 3 2 1 33
d d
. , .

D es c ar tes 2 49 ; Su g g e s te M e th o
,

o f M e as u r m g G r av i ty 2 ,

D im e n s io n s o f T o r s io n B al a n c e , E f H ar to n C o l l ie ry 5 1 21 1 22 . , ,

f e e t s o f , 1 25 1 3 5 1 3 7, 1 3 8 , , . H a u g h to n 1 22 . .

D o l c o ath 1 1 3 , 121 , . H e a r n 1 1 8 1 20 , , .

D o l o m ie u 49 ,
. H e l m e r t 54 56 1 27 1 29 ,

c
, , , .

D r o bis ch 1 1 3 1 1 4 H i ks 119 13 1
d
.
, , , , .

D r u e 1 42 , . H o oke , 2 4 5 , , .

H o r iz o n tal v a r io m e te r 1 3 7 , .

H u m b o l d t 56 ,
.

E b t v b s 106 , ,
1 3 7, 1 3 8 . H u t to n 54 55 90 1 00 1 05 1 06 1 1 8
, , , , , , , ,

1 24 .

Ja c ob,
56 123 , .

Faye , 3 1 1 24 1 3 0 1 39 Com p en sa . . ; .
Ja m e s a n d C l ar k e 5 6 , , 1 24 .

t i o n T h e o r y o f C o r re c t t o n o f Dr , .
Jo l ly 1 25 1 26 1 3 7, 1 40
, , , .

Y o u n g s R u le 3 1 1 24
” '

, , .
Jo l v 1 38 , 141
, .

Fe r r e l 13 0
Flo ta ti o n T h e o r y 3 1 1 24
.

K
K ll
.
, ,

Fo l ie 1 23 e 1 24er,
K pl
.
, ,

Fo r b e s 1 1 7, 1 1 8 1 20 e er 1
cd K pf
.
, , , ,

Fo r e V ib r atio n s 138 141 , 1 42 no 1 1 3 1 22

K o ig
.
, , , , .

Fr e s do r f 56 1 1 2 1 1 6 1 23 127 1 28 1 40
'

, .
, , , ,
n , .

1 3 1 , 13 2 13 5 ,
. K r ig ar M e n z el 1 40 1 41 -

, , .

Fu jiy am a 1 27 1 28 , , . K r fi mm u n g s v ar io m e te r 1 3 7, 1 3 8 , .

G il b e r t D r 1 , 5 49 L al an d e 48 , .

G il b e r t L W 1 05
.
, .

L as k a 1 41 , .

c
. . .
, ,

G iu lio 1 12 . .
L a w o f t h e D is ta n e 2 9 , , , ,

G o r e 1 24 1 32
, ,
1 0 1 1 26 1 42 ; O f th e M ass e s 1 3
. , , , ,

G o s s e l in 1 06 32 ; O f t h e M ate r ia l 1 2, 1 42 ; O f
d
. .
,

G o uy 1 35 , .
t h e M e iu m 1 42 , .

G r av im e t e r 1 3 5 ,
L es ag e 2, 48, 49 . , .

G ra v ita t io n E ar l y C o n c e p tio n s o f, ,

1 49 56 :
,
E a r l y E x p e r im e n ts o n
. ,

b y M e m b e r s o f R o y a l So c ie ty 2 5 —

c
,

A s E x p l a n a t io n o f Pl an e tar y Mo M a k e n z ie 1 42 .

t io n b y N e w t o n 2 1 0 1 9 :M a g M a g n e tis m G ilb e r t s E x p l an at io n o f
’
-

c d
, , ,

5 1 2 Hoo k e s G r a v itat m n b y 1 4 5 C o n tr as te
’

n e ti T h e o r y o f
Id
,

c
. . , .

e as C o n e r n in g 5 6 ; C o m p e n w ith G r a v ita tio n , 1 2 ; Te s ts f o r

c d
, ,

s a t o r 1 3 8 ; M u lt ip lic at o r 1 3 8 Pe r E ff e ts o f b y C a v e n is h 6 7 6 8 , , ,

c
. , ,

m e a bil ity 1 42 ; V e l o c ity o f Pr o p 75 76 ; b y R e i h 1 1 6 1 20 ; Su g

d
, , , ,

a g at io n o f 1 42 g e s te b y H e ar n to A c c o u n t f o r
d
.
,

P ro p o s e E x p e r im e n t o n , A n o m al ie s in B aily s R e s u l ts 1 1 8
’
G r a v it
B
,

by ac o n 1 ; b y D e sc a r te s 2 ; ,
1 20 , .

1 58
 INDEX
M as k el y n e , 1 7 43 , 53— 56 1 01
, , , R
M aye r 1 40 .

R e ic h 91 1 06 1 1 4— 1 21 1 25 1 3 8
,

M e n ab r e a 55 6 6 1 06 , ,

d
, , , .
.
. ,

R e s is ta n c e o f A ir D isc us se by B o u
,

M e n de n h al l 1 24 1 27 1 28
d
,
.
,

c
, ,

M e r ie r 47 48 1 1 1 g u e r 27 ; by C a v e n is h 6 5 6 7 ;
, ,
-

b y Po is s o n M e n abr e a an d C o r n u
.
, , ,

M ic h e l] 59 6 0 6 1 , , , .
, ,

an d B a il l e 6 6 1 06 , 1 25
M in e E x p e r im e n ts 1 2 4 5 , , , , ,
49 , ,

1 1 3 1 21 , 1 28 1 3 1 .
R ic h ar z 140 141 , , .

, ,

M o n t ign y , 1 1 9 .
R o b is o n 1 34 , .

R o iff e 48
M u n c k e , 55, 1 05, 1 06 .
, .

R o y a l So c ie ty E x p e r im e n ts by ,

M e m b e r s o f , 2 6 48 —
, .

N e w to n 2 6 7 9 1 4 1 7 1 9 3 9 43 , , ,
- R o z ie r 49 , .

, , , . , ,

47— 49 , 56 1 07, 1 1 0 124, 1 26 1 41 ; , , ,

E x p la n a t io n o f Plan e t a r y M o t io n s
by 2 1 0 ; Pe n u l u m E x p e r im e n ts
, , Sab in e 1 12 d , ,

of , 1 1 15 G u e ss a s to V a l u e o f
, Sa i g e y , 3 2 43 54 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 8 1 24 ; , ,

c
, , , ,

A by 1 4 ; E TI O 8 in C i l IC 'l ld l iO fl S C o rr e tio n o f Pe r u v ia n Pe n d u lu m
}
‘ ' ‘

I c
,

of 1 6 17 ; n d i a te s M e t h o d s o f E x p e r im e n ts b y 3 2 43
c
, ,

c
, , .

Fin d in g A , 1 7 ; C a l u la te s A t t r a e S h aar 1 19 , ,

t io n o f a M o u n ta in 1 7 ; L ife o f , Sc h e fii e r 1 23 , ,
,

1 9 ; A t te m p ts to U p s e t T h e o r y o f , Sc h e h al l ie n 43 , 53 55, 1 1 8, -

47 .
1 23 .

S h e l l 56 1 1 2 1 16 1 1 8 1 23 c
c
, . , , .

P e c h m a n n 1 24 S h m id t 44 5 0 1 06 1 1 2
, .

c
, , , , .

Pe n d u l u m E x p e r im e n t w ith P ro S h u be r t 1 24
c
, , ,
,

p o s e d b y B a o n 1 i b y H oo k e 5 ; Sh e e p s h an k s 1 1 3 ,
,
.

E x p e r im e n t s W i th b y N G W 'O U St Pa u l s C at h e d r al , E x p e r ime n ts , , .
’

1 0 1 1 15 ; b y B o u g u e r 24— 33 ; a t 4, 5
c
, , ,
, ,

b y C o u l ta u d a n d M e r ie r 47 ; by Ste r n e c k 1 28— 1 3 1 1 3 7 , ,
, ,

C a r l in i 1 1 1 ; b y A iry 1 1 3 1 21 ; Sto k e s 122

c
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1 28— 1 3 1 ; by L as k a 1 41 ; C o r re c ,

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d
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c c
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o f C o m p a r in g O n e w it h A n o t h e r B a la n c e D is c u s s e b y C av e n is h , , ,

1 1 3 1 21 1 28— 1 3 0 ; B al an c e 1 3 1
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1 59
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Z
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c
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.

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c 1 1 2,
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A D D E ND U M

Pa g e 3 2 .

[ Fa ye 1 46 ) h a s
( 5 c lc
a u l a ted th e di mi n u tion i n th e a ttr a cti
on ac

cor d in g
f o r m u la (see n ote o n p
to h is a n d fi n ds i t to be th e h l
fi fl t p ar t
.
,

wh ich is n o t f ar f r o m th a t r es u l ti n g f r o m th e exp er i m en t H is ca lc u la tio n ca n .

a lso be s ta ted i n t h e o ll o wi n g wa y :ta k i n g n o a ccou n t of th e a ttr a c tio n o

f f th e
p la tea u , the obser ved p en du l u m le ng th s c
r ed u e d to sea -
l evel by Sa ig ey a re a t

L Is le de l In ca mm
’ ’

Q u i te

D iffer en ce 0 74

c
wh i h differ en c
is of th e o r der of th e er r or s
e o f th e obser va tio n s . See th is cel

u me p 1 30 H el m er t ( 1 48 co l 2 h ap
, .
, , .
,
c . an d Z a n e tti -
B ia n c o pt 1.
,

ch ap 8 an d p t 2 p
.
,
.
, .

THE E N D
 R ETURN TO th e c irc ulat io n de s k o f any

Un ive rs ity of C a lifo rn ia L ib rary

o r to th e

NO RTHE RN REG IO NA L L IBRARY FAC IL ITY

Bld g 400 , Ric h mo n d Fie ld Statio n
.

Un ive rs ity o f C a lifo rn ia

Ric h mo n d , C A 9 48 04 46 98
-

ALL BO O KS MAY BE REC A LL E D A FTE R 7 DAYS

2 mo nth lo a n s may be re n e we d by c a llin g
-

( 5 1 0 ) 6 42 6 753
-

1 ye ar lo a n s may be
-
re c h a rg e d by b rin g in g b o o ks
to NRLF
Re n e w a ls an d re c h a rg e s m ay b e made 4 d ays
i
p or
r to d ue d ate

DUE AS STA M PED BE L O W