Six Lectures On Light
On Light
Lecture I.
Introduction -- Uses of Experiment -- Early Scientific Notions -- Sciences of Observation
-- Knowledge of the Ancients regarding Light -- Defects of the Eye -- Our Instruments
-- Rectilinear Propagation of Light -- Law of Incidence and Reflection -- Sterility of the Middle Ages
-- Refraction -- Discovery of Snell -- Partial and Total Reflection -- Velocity of Light
-- Roemer, Bradley, Foucault, and Fizeau -- Principle of Least Action -- Descartes and the Rainbow
-- Newton's Experiments on the Composition of Solar Light -- His Mistake regarding Achromatism
-- Synthesis of White Light -- Yellow and Blue Lights produce White by their Mixture
-- Colors of Natural Bodies -- Absorption -- Mixture of Pigments contrasted with Mixture of Lights
§ 1. Introduction.
Some twelve years ago I published, in England, a little book
entitled the 'Glaciers of the Alps,' and, a couple of years
subsequently, a second book, entitled 'Heat a Mode of Motion.'
These volumes were followed by others, written with equal
plainness, and with a similar aim, that aim being to develop and
deepen sympathy between science and the world outside of science.
I agreed with thoughtful men[1] who deemed it good for
neither world to be isolated from the other,
[1] Among whom may
be especially mentioned the late Sir Edmund Head, Bart., with whom
I had many conversations on this subject.
|