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Unpublished paper, 'Experiments to determine the quantity of light reflected by plane metallic specula under different angles of incidence; with a description of the photometer made use of' by Richard Potter

Reference number: AP/14/15

Date: 1830

Description

Potter recounts his experiments on plane specula that he created himself, seeking to assess the quantity of light reflected by his specula. He also describes the design and construction of the photometer used in his experiments. Includes one separate page of figures.

Subject: Optics / Scientific Instruments

Communicated by the President [Davies Gilbert]. Read to the Royal Society on 25 March 1830.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper, it was published in full in the Edinburgh Journal of Science: Potter, Richard. 'An Account of Experiments to Determine the Quantity of Light Reflected by Plane Metallic Specula Under Different Angles of Incidence: With a Description of the Photometer Made Use of.' Edinburgh Journal of Science, vol 3, 1830, pp 278-288.

Reference number
AP/14/15
Earliest possible date
1830
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
16 pages
Format
Manuscript

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Citation

Unpublished paper, 'Experiments to determine the quantity of light reflected by plane metallic specula under different angles of incidence; with a description of the photometer made use of' by Richard Potter, 1830, AP/14/15, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_14_15/unpublished-paper-experiments-to-determine-the-quantity-of-light-reflected-by-plane-metallic-specula-under-different-angles-of-incidence-with-a-description-of-the-photometer-made-use-of-by-richard-potter, accessed on 07 August 2026

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  • Archived Papers

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

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