Page:A history of the theories of aether and electricity. Whittacker E.T. (1910).pdf/11

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Contents.

Chapter I.

The Theory of the Aether in the Seventeenth Century.

Page
Matter and aether,
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1
The physical writings of Descartes,
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2
Early history of magnetism : Petrus Peregrinus, Gilbert, Descartes,
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7
Fermat attacks Descartes' theory of light: the principle of least time,
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10
Hooke's undulatory theory: the advance of wave-fronts,
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11
Newton overthrows Hooke's theory of colours,
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15
Conception of the aether in the writings of Newton,
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17
Newton's theories of the periodicity of homogeneous light, and of fits of easy transmission,
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20
The velocity of light: Galileo, Roemer,
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21
Huygens' Traité de la lumière: his theories of the propagation of waves, and of crystalline optics,
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22
Newton shows that rays obtained by double refraction have sides: his objections to the undulatory theory,
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28

Chapter II.

Electric and Magnetic Science, Prior to the Introduction of the Potentials.

The electrical researches of Gilbert: the theory of emanations,
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29
State of physical science in the first half of the eighteenth century,
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32
Gray discovers electric conduction: Desaguliers,
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37
The electric fluid,
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38
Du Fay distinguishes vitreous and resinous electricity,
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39
Nollet's effluent and affluent streams,
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40
The Leyden phial,
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41
The one-fluid theory: ideas of Watson and Franklin,
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42
Final overthrow by Aepinus of the doctrine of effluvia,
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48
Priestley discovers the law of electrostatic force,
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50