
depends on the uniformity of the dimensions of the fibres; and they are larger as the fibres are smaller. It is obvious that they are the immediate consequences of the coincidence of a number of fringes of the same size, which, as the fibres are arranged in all imaginable directions, must necessarily surround the luminous object at equal distances on all sides, and constitute circular fringes. There can be little doubt that the coloured atmo- spherical halos are of the same kind: their appearance must depend on the existence of a number of particles of water of equal dimensions, and in a proper position, with respect to the luminary and to the eye. As there is no natural limit to the magnitude of the spherules of water, we may expect these halos to vary without limit in their diameters; and accordingly Mr. Jordan has observed that their dimensions are exceedingly various, and has remarked that they frequently change during the time of observation. I first noticed the colours of mixed plates, in looking at a candle through two pieces of plate glass, with a little moisture between them. I observed an appearance of fringes resembling the common colours of thin plates, and, upon looking for the fringes by reflection, I found that these new fringes were always in the same direction as the other fringes, but many times larger. By examining the glasses with a [text] magnifier <s>I found it <\s> I perceived that wherever these fringes were visible, the
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Manuscript details
- Author
- Thomas Young
- Reference
- L&P/12/32
- Series
- L&P
- Date
- 1800
- IIIF
-
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Cite as
An Account of Some Cases of the Production ofColours, Not Hitherto Described. Thomas Young., 1800. From The Royal Society, L&P/12/32
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