London: C. J. CLAY, M.A. & SON,

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE,

17, PATERNOSTER Row.

CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL, AND CO.

LEIPZIG: F. A. BROCKHAUS.

MATHEMATICAL

AND

PHYSICAL PAPERS

BY

GEORGE GABRIEL STOKES, M.A., D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S.,

FELLOW OF PEMBROKE COLLEGE AND LUCASIAN PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

Reprinted from the Original Journals and Transactions,

with Additional Notes by the Author.

VOL. II.

CAMBRIDGE:

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

1883

[The rights of translation and reproduction are reserved.]

Cambridge:

PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A. AND SON,

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

CONTENTS.

Notes on Hydrodynamics. III. On the Dynamical Equations

On the constitution of the Luminiferous Ether

On the Theory of certain Bands seen in the Spectrum

SECTION I. Explanation of the Formation of the Bands on the imper-

fect Theory of Interferences. Mode of Calculating the Number

of Bands seen in a given part of the Spectrum

SECTION II. Investigation of the Intensity of the Light on the com-

plete Theory of Undulations, including the Explanation of the

apparent Polarity of the Bands

PAGE

1

8

14

15

24

Notes on Hydrodynamics. IV. Demonstration of a Fundamental

Theorem

36

On a difficulty in the Theory of Sound

51

On the Formation of the Central Spot of Newton's Rings beyond the

Critical Angle

56

On some points in the Received Theory of Sound

82

On the perfect Blackness of the Central Spot in Newton's Rings, and on

the Verification of Fresnel's Formulæ for the intensities of Reflected

and Refracted Rays

On Attractions, and on Clairaut's Theorem

89

104

On the Variation of Gravity at the Surface of the Earth

On a Mode of Measuring the Astigmatism of a Defective Eye

172

On the Determination of the Wave Length corresponding with any Point

of the Spectrum .

Discussion of a Differential Equation relating to the Breaking of Railway

Bridges

250

SECTION II. Propagation of an Arbitrary Disturbance in an

Elastic Medium

SECTION III. Determination of the Law of the Disturbance in a

Secondary Wave of Light

280

PART II. Experiments on the Rotation of the Plane of Polarization

of Diffracted Light.

PAGE

SECTION I.

Description of the Experiments

290

SECTION II. Discussion of the Numerical Results of the Ex-

periments, with reference to Theory

307

On the Numerical Calculation of a class of Definite Integrals and

Infinite Series

329

On the Mode of Disappearance of Newton's Rings in passing the Angle of

Total Internal Reflection

358

P. 221, in the Number of the Note. For IV. read VI.