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
378. Reflection of Light at the Confines of a Diffusing Medium
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
I suppose that everyone is familiar with the beautifully graded illumination of a paraffin candle, extending downwards from the flame to a distance of several inches. The thing is seen at its best when there is but one candle in an otherwise dark room, and when the eye is protected from the direct light of the flame. And it must often be noticed when a candle is broken across, so that the two portions are held together merely by the wick, that the part below the fracture is much darker than it would otherwise be, and the part above brighter, the contrast between the two being very marked. This effect is naturally attributed to reflection, but it does not at first appear that the cause is adequate, seeing that at perpendicular incidence the reflection at the common surface of wax and air is only about 4 per cent.
A little consideration shows that the efficacy of the reflection depends upon the incidence not being limited to the neighbourhood of the perpendicular. In consequence of diffusion the propagation of light within the wax is not specially along the length of the candle, but somewhat approximately equal in all directions. Accordingly at a fracture there is a good deal of “total reflection.” The general attenuation downwards is doubtless partly due to defect of transparency, but also, and perhaps more, to the lateral escape of light at the surface of the candle, thereby rendered visible. By hindering this escape the brightly illuminated length may be much increased.
The experiment may be tried by enclosing the candle in a reflecting tubular envelope.
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- Information
- Scientific Papers , pp. 205 - 207Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1920