Unpublished paper, 'The attraction of ellipsoids considered geometrically' by Matthew Collins

Description

Collins begins by stating that the attraction of an ellipsoid on a point on its surface or within it, in a direction perpendicular to one of its principal planes, is proportional to the distance of the attracted point from that plane. He demonstrates this general proposition in the case when the attracted point is on the surface of the ellipsoid and in the case when the attracted point is within the ellipsoid.

Includes one diagram in the text illustrating Collins's methods.

Subject: Mathematics / Geometry

Received 27 April 1854. Communicated by Samuel Hunter Christie.

Written by Collins at the Mechanics Institute, Liverpool [England].

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 7 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'The attraction of ellipsoids considered generally'.

A version of this paper was published by Collins in The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Collins, Matthew. 'The attraction of ellipsoids considered geometrically.' The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, volume 7, number 47 (1854), pp. 401-407.

Reference number

AP/36/10

Earliest possible date

19 April 1854

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

4 pages

Format

Diagram
Manuscript