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
8 - On the Light from the Sky, its Polarization and Colour
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2011
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
Summary
It is now, I believe, generally admitted that the light which we receive from the clear sky is due in one way or another to small suspended particles which divert the light from its regular course. On this point the experiments of Tyndall with precipitated clouds seem quite decisive. Whenever the particles of the foreign matter are sufficiently fine, the light emitted laterally is blue in colour, and, in a direction perpendicular to that of the incident beam, is completely polarized.
About the colour there is no prima facie difficulty; for as soon as the question is raised, it is seen that the standard of linear dimension, with reference to which the particles are called small, is the wave-length of light, and that a given set of particles would (on any conceivable view as to their mode of action) produce a continually increasing disturbance as we pass along the spectrum towards the more refrangible end; and there seems no reason why the colour of the compound light thus scattered laterally should not agree with that of the sky.
On the other hand, the direction of polarization (perpendicular to the path of the primary light) seems to have been felt as a difficulty.
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- Scientific Papers , pp. 87 - 103Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1899
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