Paper, 'On the physics of media that are composed of free and perfectly elastic molecules and a state of motion', by [John James] Waterston
Reference number: HS/19/265
Date: 1846
Description
Handwritten original paper offering a kinetic theory of gases. This paper was submitted for publication to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society but rejected, it was thought that the original paper by Waterston had been lost by the Royal Society. On this copy addressed to Herschel personally, a note in Herschel's hand at the top of the paper mentions "Mr Waterston's paper with a letter and my reply, which could not be sent Mr W. having given no address sent but 'London''.
The theory proposed by Waterston was later confirmed to be correct despite the original referee reports, and published posthumously in Phil. Trans. in 1892, in recognition of the pioneering work of Waterston.
Enclosure removed from HS/18/380 and reply is HS/18/381.
- Reference number
- HS/19/265
- Earliest possible date
- 1846
- Physical description
- Ink on paper
- Page extent
- 3 pp.
- Format
- Manuscript
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Citation
John James Waterston, Paper, 'On the physics of media that are composed of free and perfectly elastic molecules and a state of motion', by [John James] Waterston, 1846, HS/19/265, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_19_265/paper-on-the-physics-of-media-that-are-composed-of-free-and-perfectly-elastic-molecules-and-a-state-of-motion-by-john-james-waterston, accessed on 10 March 2026
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Related Publications
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I. On the physics of media that are composed of free and perfectly elastic molecules in a state of motion External link, opens in new tab.
Date: 31st December 1892
DOI: 10.1098/rsta.1892.0001
Related Records
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Letter, from John James Waterston to Sir John Herschel, dated at London
Creator: John James Waterston Reference number: HS/18/380 -
Draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to John James Waterston, dated at Collingwood
Creator: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/18/381 -
Referee's report by John William Lubbock, on a paper 'On the physics of media that are composed of free and perfectly elastic molecules in a state of motion' by John James Waterston
Creator: John William Lubbock Reference number: RR/1/76 -
Referee's report by Baden Powell, on a paper 'On the physics of media that are composed of free and perfectly elastic molecules in a state of motion' by John James Waterston
Creator: Baden Powell Reference number: RR/1/77 -
Letter, from John James Waterston to Sir John Herschel, dated at London
Creator: John James Waterston Reference number: HS/18/380
Hierarchy
This item is part of:
-
Correspondence of Sir John Frederick William Herschel
1812-1870 Creator: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS -
Correspondence of John Frederick William Herschel: volume 19 Miscellaneous
1821-1870 Reference number: HS/19
Related Fellows
-
John Frederick William Herschel
Recipient
Map
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Herschel Letters
This collection of nearly 10,900 letters, drafts, copies and notes is the largest repository of scientific correspondence from and to Sir John Herschel, leading figure of Victorian science.
Dates: 1807 - 1875
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