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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'On the causes of the great variation among the different measures of the Earth's mean density' by W S [William Stephen] Jacob

Reference number: AP/39/4

Date: 1856

Description

Jacob describes a series of methods for measuring the Earth's mean density, which include comparing the total attraction of the Earth with that of a mountain mass; the Cavendish method, involving a small mass of known dense material; and Airy's method. He goes on to suggest the nature and amount of error that may be introduced by these methods.

Includes three geometrical diagrams in the text illustrating Jacob's calculations regarding error.

Subject: Physical sciences / Mathematics

Received 25 October 1856. Read 11 December 1856. Communicated by Professor [Baden] Powell.

This paper was published in full in volume 8 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On the causes of the great variation among the different measures of the Earth’s mean density'.

Reference number
AP/39/4
Earliest possible date
1856
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
7 pages
Format
Diagram
Manuscript

Creator name

William Stephen Jacob

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Citation

William Stephen Jacob, Paper, 'On the causes of the great variation among the different measures of the Earth's mean density' by W S [William Stephen] Jacob, 1856, AP/39/4, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_39_4/paper-on-the-causes-of-the-great-variation-among-the-different-measures-of-the-earths-mean-density-by-w-s-william-stephen-jacob, accessed on 11 February 2026

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