Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- ERRATA
- 350. Note on Bessel's Functions as applied to the Vibrations of a Circular Membrane
- 351. Hydrodynamical Notes
- 352. On a Physical Interpretation of Schlömilch's Theorem in Bessel's Functions
- 353. Breath Figures
- 354. On the Motion of Solid Bodies through Viscous Liquid
- 355. Aberration in a Dispersive Medium
- 356. Letter to Professor Nernst
- 357. On the Calculation of Chladni's Figures for a Square Plate
- 358. Problems in the Conduction of Heat
- 359. On the General Problem of Photographic Reproduction, with suggestions for enhancing Gradation originally Invisible
- 360. On the Propagation of Waves through a Stratified Medium, with special reference to the Question of Reflection
- 361. Spectroscopic Methods
- 362. On Departures from Fresnel's Laws of Reflexion
- 363. The Principle of Reflection in Spectroscope
- 364. On the Self-Induction of Electric Currents in a Thin Anchor-Ring
- 365. Electrical Vibrations on a Thin Anchor-Ring
- 366. Coloured Photometry
- 367. On some Iridescent Films
- 368. Breath Figures
- 369. Remarks concerning Fourier's Theorem as applied to Physical Problems
- 370. Sur la Résistance des Sphères dans l'Air en Mouvement
- 371. The Effect of Junctions on the Propagation of Electric Waves along Conductors
- 372. The Correction to the Length of Terminated Rods in Electrical Problems
- 373. On Conformal Representation from a Mechanical Point of View
- 374. On the Approximate Solution of Certain Problems relating to the Potential.—II
- 375. On the Passage of Waves through Fine Slits in Thin Opaque Screens
- 376. On the Motion of a Viscous Fluid
- 377. On the Stability of the Laminar Motion of an Inviscid Fluid
- 378. Reflection of Light at the Confines of a Diffusing Medium
- 379. The Pressure of Radiation and Carnot's Principle
- 380. Further Applications of Bessel's Functions of High Order to the Whispering Gallery and Allied Problems
- 381. On the Diffraction of Light by Spheres of Small Relative Index
- 382. Some Calculations in Illustration of Fourier's Theorem
- 383. Further Calculations concerning the Momentum of Progressive Waves
- 384. Fluid Motions
- 385. On the Theory of Long Waves and Bores
- 386. The Sand-Blast
- 387. The Equilibrium of Revolving Liquid under Capillary Force
- 388. Further Remarks on the Stability of Viscous Fluid Motion
- 389. Note on the Formula for the Gradient Wind
- 390. Some Problems concerning the Mutual Influence of Resonators exposed to Primary Plane Waves
- 391. On the Widening of Spectrum Lines
- 392. The Principle of Similitude
- 393. Deep Water Waves, Progressive or Stationary, to the Third Order of Approximation
- 394. Æolian Tones
- 395. On the Resistance experienced by Small Plates exposed to a Stream of Fluid
- 396. Hydrodynamical Problems suggested by Pitot's Tubes
- 397. On the Character of the “S” Sound
- 398. On the Stability of the Simple Shearing Motion of a Viscous Incompressible Fluid
- 399. On the Theory of the Capillary Tube
- 400. The Cone as a Collector of Sound
- 401. The Theory of the Helmholtz Resonator
- 402. On the Propagation of Sound in Narrow Tubes of Variable Section
- 403. On the Electrical Capacity of Approximate Spheres and Cylinders
- 404. On Legendre's Function Pn (θ), when n is great and θ has any value
- 405. Memorandum on Fog Signals
- 406. Lamb's Hydrodynamics
- 407. On the Flow of Compressible Fluid past an Obstacle
- 408. On the Discharge of Gases under High Pressures
- 409. On the Energy acquired by Small Resonators from Incident Waves of like Period
- 410. On the Attenuation of Sound in the Atmosphere
- 411. On Vibrations and Deflexions of Membranes, Bars, and Plates
- 412. On Convection Currents in a Horizontal Layer of Fluid, when the Higher Temperature is on the Under Side
- 413. On the Dynamics of Revolving Fluids
- 414. Propagation of Sound in Water
- 415. On Methods for Detecting Small Optical Retardations, and on the Theory of Foucault's Test
- 416. Talbot's Observations on Fused Nitre
- 417. Cutting and Chipping of Glass
- 418. The Le Chatelier-Braun Principle
- 419. On Periodic Irrotational Waves at the Surface of Deep Water
- 420. On the Suggested Analogy between the Conduction of Heat and Momentum during the Turbulent Motion of a Fluid
- 421. The Theory of Anomalous Dispersion
- 422. On the Reflection of Light from a regularly Stratified Medium
- 423. On the Pressure developed in a Liquid during the Collapse of a Spherical Cavity
- 424. On the Colours Diffusely Reflected from some Collodion Films spread on Metal Surfaces
- 425. Memorandum on Synchronous Signalling
- 426. A Simple Problem in Forced Lubrication
- 427. On the Scattering of Light by Spherical Shells, and by Complete Spheres of Periodic Structure, when the Refractivity is Small
- 428. Notes on the Theory of Lubrication
- 429. On the Lubricating and other Properties of Thin Oily Films
- 430. On the Scattering of Light by a Cloud of Similar Small Particles of any Shape and Oriented at Random
- 431. Propagation of Sound and Light in an Irregular Atmosphere
- 432. Note on the Theory of the Double Resonator
- 433. A Proposed Hydraulic Experiment
- 434. On the Dispersal of Light by a Dielectric Cylinder
- 435. The Perception of Sound
- 436. On the Light Emitted from a Random Distribution of Luminous Sources
- 437. The Perception of Sound
- 438. On the Optical Character of some Brilliant Animal Colours
- 439. On the Possible Disturbance of a Range-Finder by Atmospheric Refraction due to the Motion of the Ship which carries it
- 440. Remarks on Major G. I. Taylor's Papers on the Distribution of Air Pressure
- 441. On the Problem of Random Vibrations, and of Random Flights in One, Two, or Three Dimensions
- 442. On the Resultant of a Number of Unit Vibrations, whose Phases are at Random over a Range not Limited to an Integral Number of Periods
- 443. Presidential Address
- 444. The Travelling Cyclone
- 445. Periodic Precipitates
- 446. On Resonant Reflexion of Sound from a Perforated Wall
- CONTENTS OF VOLUMES I—VI CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SUBJECT
- INDEX OF NAMES
367. On some Iridescent Films
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2011
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- ERRATA
- 350. Note on Bessel's Functions as applied to the Vibrations of a Circular Membrane
- 351. Hydrodynamical Notes
- 352. On a Physical Interpretation of Schlömilch's Theorem in Bessel's Functions
- 353. Breath Figures
- 354. On the Motion of Solid Bodies through Viscous Liquid
- 355. Aberration in a Dispersive Medium
- 356. Letter to Professor Nernst
- 357. On the Calculation of Chladni's Figures for a Square Plate
- 358. Problems in the Conduction of Heat
- 359. On the General Problem of Photographic Reproduction, with suggestions for enhancing Gradation originally Invisible
- 360. On the Propagation of Waves through a Stratified Medium, with special reference to the Question of Reflection
- 361. Spectroscopic Methods
- 362. On Departures from Fresnel's Laws of Reflexion
- 363. The Principle of Reflection in Spectroscope
- 364. On the Self-Induction of Electric Currents in a Thin Anchor-Ring
- 365. Electrical Vibrations on a Thin Anchor-Ring
- 366. Coloured Photometry
- 367. On some Iridescent Films
- 368. Breath Figures
- 369. Remarks concerning Fourier's Theorem as applied to Physical Problems
- 370. Sur la Résistance des Sphères dans l'Air en Mouvement
- 371. The Effect of Junctions on the Propagation of Electric Waves along Conductors
- 372. The Correction to the Length of Terminated Rods in Electrical Problems
- 373. On Conformal Representation from a Mechanical Point of View
- 374. On the Approximate Solution of Certain Problems relating to the Potential.—II
- 375. On the Passage of Waves through Fine Slits in Thin Opaque Screens
- 376. On the Motion of a Viscous Fluid
- 377. On the Stability of the Laminar Motion of an Inviscid Fluid
- 378. Reflection of Light at the Confines of a Diffusing Medium
- 379. The Pressure of Radiation and Carnot's Principle
- 380. Further Applications of Bessel's Functions of High Order to the Whispering Gallery and Allied Problems
- 381. On the Diffraction of Light by Spheres of Small Relative Index
- 382. Some Calculations in Illustration of Fourier's Theorem
- 383. Further Calculations concerning the Momentum of Progressive Waves
- 384. Fluid Motions
- 385. On the Theory of Long Waves and Bores
- 386. The Sand-Blast
- 387. The Equilibrium of Revolving Liquid under Capillary Force
- 388. Further Remarks on the Stability of Viscous Fluid Motion
- 389. Note on the Formula for the Gradient Wind
- 390. Some Problems concerning the Mutual Influence of Resonators exposed to Primary Plane Waves
- 391. On the Widening of Spectrum Lines
- 392. The Principle of Similitude
- 393. Deep Water Waves, Progressive or Stationary, to the Third Order of Approximation
- 394. Æolian Tones
- 395. On the Resistance experienced by Small Plates exposed to a Stream of Fluid
- 396. Hydrodynamical Problems suggested by Pitot's Tubes
- 397. On the Character of the “S” Sound
- 398. On the Stability of the Simple Shearing Motion of a Viscous Incompressible Fluid
- 399. On the Theory of the Capillary Tube
- 400. The Cone as a Collector of Sound
- 401. The Theory of the Helmholtz Resonator
- 402. On the Propagation of Sound in Narrow Tubes of Variable Section
- 403. On the Electrical Capacity of Approximate Spheres and Cylinders
- 404. On Legendre's Function Pn (θ), when n is great and θ has any value
- 405. Memorandum on Fog Signals
- 406. Lamb's Hydrodynamics
- 407. On the Flow of Compressible Fluid past an Obstacle
- 408. On the Discharge of Gases under High Pressures
- 409. On the Energy acquired by Small Resonators from Incident Waves of like Period
- 410. On the Attenuation of Sound in the Atmosphere
- 411. On Vibrations and Deflexions of Membranes, Bars, and Plates
- 412. On Convection Currents in a Horizontal Layer of Fluid, when the Higher Temperature is on the Under Side
- 413. On the Dynamics of Revolving Fluids
- 414. Propagation of Sound in Water
- 415. On Methods for Detecting Small Optical Retardations, and on the Theory of Foucault's Test
- 416. Talbot's Observations on Fused Nitre
- 417. Cutting and Chipping of Glass
- 418. The Le Chatelier-Braun Principle
- 419. On Periodic Irrotational Waves at the Surface of Deep Water
- 420. On the Suggested Analogy between the Conduction of Heat and Momentum during the Turbulent Motion of a Fluid
- 421. The Theory of Anomalous Dispersion
- 422. On the Reflection of Light from a regularly Stratified Medium
- 423. On the Pressure developed in a Liquid during the Collapse of a Spherical Cavity
- 424. On the Colours Diffusely Reflected from some Collodion Films spread on Metal Surfaces
- 425. Memorandum on Synchronous Signalling
- 426. A Simple Problem in Forced Lubrication
- 427. On the Scattering of Light by Spherical Shells, and by Complete Spheres of Periodic Structure, when the Refractivity is Small
- 428. Notes on the Theory of Lubrication
- 429. On the Lubricating and other Properties of Thin Oily Films
- 430. On the Scattering of Light by a Cloud of Similar Small Particles of any Shape and Oriented at Random
- 431. Propagation of Sound and Light in an Irregular Atmosphere
- 432. Note on the Theory of the Double Resonator
- 433. A Proposed Hydraulic Experiment
- 434. On the Dispersal of Light by a Dielectric Cylinder
- 435. The Perception of Sound
- 436. On the Light Emitted from a Random Distribution of Luminous Sources
- 437. The Perception of Sound
- 438. On the Optical Character of some Brilliant Animal Colours
- 439. On the Possible Disturbance of a Range-Finder by Atmospheric Refraction due to the Motion of the Ship which carries it
- 440. Remarks on Major G. I. Taylor's Papers on the Distribution of Air Pressure
- 441. On the Problem of Random Vibrations, and of Random Flights in One, Two, or Three Dimensions
- 442. On the Resultant of a Number of Unit Vibrations, whose Phases are at Random over a Range not Limited to an Integral Number of Periods
- 443. Presidential Address
- 444. The Travelling Cyclone
- 445. Periodic Precipitates
- 446. On Resonant Reflexion of Sound from a Perforated Wall
- CONTENTS OF VOLUMES I—VI CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SUBJECT
- INDEX OF NAMES
Summary
The experiments now to be described originated in an accidental observation. Some old lantern-plates, from which the gelatine films had been cleaned off a few years before (probably with nitric acid), being required for use, were again placed in dilute nitric acid to ensure cleanliness. From these plates a gas-flame burning over the dish was seen reflected with colour, of which the cause was not obvious. On examination in daylight a dry plate was observed to be iridescent, but so slightly that the fact might easily escape attention. But when the plate was under water and suitably illuminated, the brilliancy was remarkably enhanced. Upon this question of illumination almost everything depends. The window-shutter of one of the rooms in my laboratory has an aperture about 4 inches square. In front of this the dish of water is placed and at the bottom of the dish a piece of dark-coloured glass. In the water the plate under observation is tilted,so as to separate the reflexions of the sky as given by the plate and by the glass underneath. In this way a dark background is ensured. At the corners and edges of the plate the reflected light is white, then follow dark bands, and afterwards the colours which suggest reflexion from a thin plate. On this view it is necessary to suppose that the iridescent film is thinnest at the outside and thickens towards the interior, and further, that the material constituting the film has an index intermediate between those of the glass and of the water.
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- Scientific Papers , pp. 123 - 126Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1920