Opticks : $b or, A treatise of the reflections, refractions, inflections and colours of lightNewton, Isaac
Science
Opticks : $b or, A treatise of the reflections, refractions, inflections and colours of light
Newton, Isaac
Optics -- Early works to 1800
Let the Circle X [in _Fig._ 1.] represent the middle of the Hair; ADG,
BEH, CFI, three Rays passing by one side of the Hair at several
distances; KNQ, LOR, MPS, three other Rays passing by the other side of
the Hair at the like distances; D, E, F, and N, O, P, the places where
the Rays are bent in their passage by the Hair; G, H, I, and Q, R, S,
the places where the Rays fall on a Paper GQ; IS the breadth of the
Shadow of the Hair cast on the Paper, and TI, VS, two Rays passing to
the Points I and S without bending when the Hair is taken away. And it's
manifest that all the Light between these two Rays TI and VS is bent in
passing by the Hair, and turned aside from the Shadow IS, because if any
part of this Light were not bent it would fall on the Paper within the
Shadow, and there illuminate the Paper, contrary to experience. And
because when the Paper is at a great distance from the Hair, the Shadow
is broad, and therefore the Rays TI and VS are at a great distance from
one another, it follows that the Hair acts upon the Rays of Light at a
good distance in their passing by it. But the Action is strongest on the
Rays which pass by at least distances, and grows weaker and weaker
accordingly as the Rays pass by at distances greater and greater, as is
represented in the Scheme: For thence it comes to pass, that the Shadow
of the Hair is much broader in proportion to the distance of the Paper
from the Hair, when the Paper is nearer the Hair, than when it is at a
great distance from it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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