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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'An account of an experiment touching the propagation of sound passing from the sonorous body into the common air in one direction only' by Francis Hauksbee

Reference number: CLP/18i/122

Date: 1709

Description

Hauksbee writes: 'Since by the former Experiment actual Sound could not be transmitted thro a Space void of Air; I was inclin'd to try whether that Sound, which should be propagated in a Receiver, having a Communication with the open Air at one small Apperture only, but otherwise intirely surrounded by a Vacuum; Whether I say, that Sound would be increas'd, or continu’d Sounding longer, at each Stroke that should be given the Bell, than it would do, were not its Body encompass’d by such a Medium.' He describes an experiment on the propagation of sound.

Subject: Physics

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'An account of an experiment, touching the propagation of sound, passing from the sonorous body into the common air, in one direction only'

Reference number
CLP/18i/122
Earliest possible date
1709
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
1 page
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Francis Hauksbee

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Citation

Francis Hauksbee, Paper, 'An account of an experiment touching the propagation of sound passing from the sonorous body into the common air in one direction only' by Francis Hauksbee, 1709, CLP/18i/122, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_18i_122/paper-an-account-of-an-experiment-touching-the-propagation-of-sound-passing-from-the-sonorous-body-into-the-common-air-in-one-direction-only-by-francis-hauksbee, accessed on 23 January 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_18i_122/paper-an-account-of-an-experiment-touching-the-propagation-of-sound-passing-from-the-sonorous-body-into-the-common-air-in-one-direction-only-by-francis-hauksbee

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    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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