Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- 1 On some Electromagnetic Phenomena considered in connexion with the Dynamical Theory
- 2 On an Electromagnetic Experiment
- 3 On the values of the Integral being Laplace's Coefficients of the orders n, n', with an application to the Theory of Radiation
- 4 Remarks on a paper by Dr Sondhauss
- 5 On the Theory of Resonance
- 6 Note on the explanation of Coronas, as given in Verdet's Leçons d'Optique Physique, and other works
- 7 Some Experiments on Colour
- 8 On the Light from the Sky, its Polarization and Colour
- 9 On the Scattering of Light by small Particles
- 10 On Double Refraction
- 11 On the Reflection of Light from Transparent Matter
- 12 On a Correction sometimes required in Curves professing to represent the connexion between two Physical Magnitudes
- 13 On the Vibrations of a Gas contained within a Rigid Spherical Envelope
- 14 Investigation of the Disturbance produced by a Spherical Obstacle on the Waves of Sound
- 15 Notes on Bessel's Functions
- 16 On the Reflection and Refraction of Light by Intensely Opaque Matter
- 17 Preliminary note on the Reproduction of Diffraction-Gratings by means of Photography
- 18 On the Application of Photography to copy Diffraction-Gratings
- 19 On the Diffraction of Object-Glasses
- 20 An Experiment to illustrate the Induction on itself of an Electric Current
- 21 Some General Theorems relating to Vibrations
- 22 On the Nodal Lines of a Square Plate
- 23 Note on a Natural Limit to the Sharpness of Spectral Lines
- 24 On the Vibrations of Approximately Simple Systems
- 25 On the Fundamental Modes of a Vibrating System
- 26 Vibrations of Membranes
- 27 Harmonic Echoes
- 28 Note on the Numerical Calculation of the Roots of Fluctuating Functions
- 29 A History of the Mathematical Theories of Attraction and the Figure of the Earth from the time of Newton to that of Laplace
- 30 On the Manufacture and Theory of Diffraction-Gratings
- 31 Insects and the Colours of Flowers
- 32 A Statical Theorem
- 33 Mr Hamilton's String Organ
- 34 General Theorems relating to Equilibrium and Initial and Steady Motions
- 35 On the Dissipation of Energy
- 36 On the Work that may be gained during the Mixing of Gases
- 37 Vibrations of a Liquid in a Cylindrical Vessel
- 38 On Waves
- 39 On the Approximate Solution of Certain Problems relating to the Potential
- 40 Our Perception of the Direction of a Source of Sound
- 41 Questions from Mathematical Tripos Examination for 1876
- 42 On the Resistance of Fluids
- 43 Notes on Hydrodynamics
- 44 On the Application of the Principle of Reciprocity to Acoustics
- 45 On a Permanent Deflection of the Galvanometer-Needle under the influence of a rapid series of equal and opposite Induced Currents
- 46 Acoustical Observations. I
- 47 On Progressive Waves
- 48 On the Amplitude of Sound-Waves
- 49 Absolute Pitch
- 50 On Mr Venn's Explanation of a Gambling Paradox
- 51 On the Relation between the Functions of Laplace and Bessel
- 52 Note on Acoustic Repulsion
- 53 On the Irregular Flight of a Tennis-Ball
- 54 A simple Proof of a Theorem relating to the Potential
- 55 The Explanation of certain Acoustical Phenomena
- 56 Uniformity of Rotation
- 57 On the Determination of Absolute Pitch by the Common Harmonium
- 58 On the Instability of Jets
- 59 The Influence of Electricity on Colliding Water Drops
- 60 On the Capillary Phenomena of Jets
- 61 Acoustical Observations. II
- 62 Investigations in Optics, with special reference to the Spectro-scope
- 63 On Reflection of Vibrations at the Confines of two Media between which the Transition is Gradual
- 64 On the Minimum Aberration of a Single Lens for Parallel Rays
- 65 Acoustical Observations. III
- 66 On the Stability, or Instability, of certain Fluid Motions
- 67 On the Resolving-Power of Telescopes
- 68 On the Resultant of a large number of Vibrations of the same Pitch and of arbitrary Phase
- 69 Note on the Theory of the Induction Balance
- 70 On a New Arrangement for Sensitive Flames
- 71 The Photophone
- 72 On Copying Diffraction-Gratings, and on some Phenomena connected therewith
- 73 On Images formed without Reflection or Refraction
- 74 On the Electromagnetic Theory of Light
- 75 On the Velocity of Light
- 76 On a Question in the Theory of Lighting
- 77 Experiments on Colour
- 78 On the Infinitesimal Bending of Surfaces of Revolution
28 - Note on the Numerical Calculation of the Roots of Fluctuating Functions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2011
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- 1 On some Electromagnetic Phenomena considered in connexion with the Dynamical Theory
- 2 On an Electromagnetic Experiment
- 3 On the values of the Integral being Laplace's Coefficients of the orders n, n', with an application to the Theory of Radiation
- 4 Remarks on a paper by Dr Sondhauss
- 5 On the Theory of Resonance
- 6 Note on the explanation of Coronas, as given in Verdet's Leçons d'Optique Physique, and other works
- 7 Some Experiments on Colour
- 8 On the Light from the Sky, its Polarization and Colour
- 9 On the Scattering of Light by small Particles
- 10 On Double Refraction
- 11 On the Reflection of Light from Transparent Matter
- 12 On a Correction sometimes required in Curves professing to represent the connexion between two Physical Magnitudes
- 13 On the Vibrations of a Gas contained within a Rigid Spherical Envelope
- 14 Investigation of the Disturbance produced by a Spherical Obstacle on the Waves of Sound
- 15 Notes on Bessel's Functions
- 16 On the Reflection and Refraction of Light by Intensely Opaque Matter
- 17 Preliminary note on the Reproduction of Diffraction-Gratings by means of Photography
- 18 On the Application of Photography to copy Diffraction-Gratings
- 19 On the Diffraction of Object-Glasses
- 20 An Experiment to illustrate the Induction on itself of an Electric Current
- 21 Some General Theorems relating to Vibrations
- 22 On the Nodal Lines of a Square Plate
- 23 Note on a Natural Limit to the Sharpness of Spectral Lines
- 24 On the Vibrations of Approximately Simple Systems
- 25 On the Fundamental Modes of a Vibrating System
- 26 Vibrations of Membranes
- 27 Harmonic Echoes
- 28 Note on the Numerical Calculation of the Roots of Fluctuating Functions
- 29 A History of the Mathematical Theories of Attraction and the Figure of the Earth from the time of Newton to that of Laplace
- 30 On the Manufacture and Theory of Diffraction-Gratings
- 31 Insects and the Colours of Flowers
- 32 A Statical Theorem
- 33 Mr Hamilton's String Organ
- 34 General Theorems relating to Equilibrium and Initial and Steady Motions
- 35 On the Dissipation of Energy
- 36 On the Work that may be gained during the Mixing of Gases
- 37 Vibrations of a Liquid in a Cylindrical Vessel
- 38 On Waves
- 39 On the Approximate Solution of Certain Problems relating to the Potential
- 40 Our Perception of the Direction of a Source of Sound
- 41 Questions from Mathematical Tripos Examination for 1876
- 42 On the Resistance of Fluids
- 43 Notes on Hydrodynamics
- 44 On the Application of the Principle of Reciprocity to Acoustics
- 45 On a Permanent Deflection of the Galvanometer-Needle under the influence of a rapid series of equal and opposite Induced Currents
- 46 Acoustical Observations. I
- 47 On Progressive Waves
- 48 On the Amplitude of Sound-Waves
- 49 Absolute Pitch
- 50 On Mr Venn's Explanation of a Gambling Paradox
- 51 On the Relation between the Functions of Laplace and Bessel
- 52 Note on Acoustic Repulsion
- 53 On the Irregular Flight of a Tennis-Ball
- 54 A simple Proof of a Theorem relating to the Potential
- 55 The Explanation of certain Acoustical Phenomena
- 56 Uniformity of Rotation
- 57 On the Determination of Absolute Pitch by the Common Harmonium
- 58 On the Instability of Jets
- 59 The Influence of Electricity on Colliding Water Drops
- 60 On the Capillary Phenomena of Jets
- 61 Acoustical Observations. II
- 62 Investigations in Optics, with special reference to the Spectro-scope
- 63 On Reflection of Vibrations at the Confines of two Media between which the Transition is Gradual
- 64 On the Minimum Aberration of a Single Lens for Parallel Rays
- 65 Acoustical Observations. III
- 66 On the Stability, or Instability, of certain Fluid Motions
- 67 On the Resolving-Power of Telescopes
- 68 On the Resultant of a large number of Vibrations of the same Pitch and of arbitrary Phase
- 69 Note on the Theory of the Induction Balance
- 70 On a New Arrangement for Sensitive Flames
- 71 The Photophone
- 72 On Copying Diffraction-Gratings, and on some Phenomena connected therewith
- 73 On Images formed without Reflection or Refraction
- 74 On the Electromagnetic Theory of Light
- 75 On the Velocity of Light
- 76 On a Question in the Theory of Lighting
- 77 Experiments on Colour
- 78 On the Infinitesimal Bending of Surfaces of Revolution
Summary
There is an important class of functions, often occurring in physical investigations, whose numerical calculation is easy when the argument is either small or great. In the first case the function is readily calculated from an ascending series, which is always convergent and might be employed whatever the value of the variable may be, were it not for the length to which the calculations would run. When the argument is great, a series proceeding by descending powers is employed, whose character is quite different. In this case the series is of the kind called semi-convergent, though strictly speaking it is not convergent at all; for, when carried sufficiently far, the sum of the series may be made to exceed any assignable quantity. But, though ultimately divergent, it begins by converging, and when a certain point is reached the terms become very small. It can be proved that, if we stop here, the sum of the terms already obtained represents the required value of the functions, subject to an error which in general cannot exceed the last term included. Calculations founded on this series are therefore only approximate; and the degree of the approximation cannot be carried beyond a certain point. If more terms are included, the result is made worse instead of better. In the class of functions referred to, the descending series is abundantly adequate when the argument is large, but there will usually be a region—often the most interesting part of the whole— where neither series is very convenient. The object of the present note is to point out how a part of the difficulty thence arising may sometimes be met.
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- Scientific Papers , pp. 190 - 195Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1899