The Tides and Kindred Phenomena in the Solar System (illustrated)
Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Earth Sciences, Physics, Astronomy
| Author: | George Darwin | ISBN: | 1230000131283 |
| Publisher: | Darwin | Publication: | May 9, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | George Darwin |
| ISBN: | 1230000131283 |
| Publisher: | Darwin |
| Publication: | May 9, 2013 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
A mathematical argument is, after all, only organized common sense, and it is well that men of science should not always expound their work to the few behind a veil of technical language, but should from time to time explain to a larger public the reasoning which lies behind their mathematical notation. To a man unversed in popular exposition it needs a great effort to shell away the apparatus of investigation and the technical mode of speech from the thing behind it, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Lowell, trustee of the Institute, for having afforded me the occasion for making that effort.
It is not unlikely that the first remark of many who see my title will be that so small a subject as the Tides cannot demand a whole volume; but, in fact, the subject branches out in so many directions that the difficulty has been to attain to the requisite compression of my matter. Many popular works on astronomy devote a few pages to the Tides, but, as far as I know, none of these books contain explanations of the practical methods of observing and predicting the Tides, or give any details as to the degree of success attained by tidal predictions. If these matters are of interest, I invite my readers not to confine their reading to this preface. The later chapters of this book are devoted to the consideration of several branches of speculative Astronomy, with which the theory of the Tides has an intimate relationship. The problems involved in the origin and history of the solar and of other celestial systems have little bearing upon our life on the earth, yet these questions can hardly fail to be of interest to all those whose minds are in any degree permeated by the scientific spirit.
I think that there are many who would like to understand the Tides, and will make the attempt to do so provided the exposition be sufficiently simple and clear; it is to such readers I address this volume. It is for them to say how far I have succeeded in rendering these intricate subjects interesting and intelligible, but if I have failed it has not been for lack of pains.
In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity of thanking my American audience for the cordiality of their reception, and my many friends across the Atlantic for their abundant hospitality and kindness.
G. H. DARWIN
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Definition of tide
Oceanic tides
Methods of observation
Tide-gauge
Tide-curve
Site for tide-gauge
Irregularities in tide-curve
CHAPTER II
SEICHES IN LAKES
Meaning of seiche
Uses of scientific apparatus
Forel's plemyrameter
Records of the level of the lake
Interpretation of record
Limnimeter
Mode of oscillation in seiches
Wave motion in deep and in shallow water
Composition of waves
Periods of seiches
Causes of seiches
Vibrations due to wind and to steamers
Aerial waves and their action on lakes and on the sea
CHAPTER III
TIDES IN RIVERS|TIDE MILLS
Definition of ebb and flow
Tidal currents in rivers
Progressive change of wave in shallow water
The bore
CHAPTER IV
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Theories of the Chinese
Theories of the Arabs
Theories of the Norsemen
Writings of Posidonius and Strabo
Seleucus the Babylonian on the diurnal inequality
Galileo and Kepler
Newton and his successors
Empirical method of tidal prediction
CHAPTER V
TIDE-GENERATING FORCE
CHAPTER VI
DEFLECTION OF THE VERTICAL
CHAPTER VII
THE ELASTIC DISTORTION OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE BY
VARYING LOADS
CHAPTER VIII
EQUILIBRIUM THEORY OF TIDES
CHAPTER IX
DYNAMICAL THEORY OF THE TIDE WAVE
CHAPTER X
TIDES IN LAKES|COTIDAL CHART
CHAPTER XI
HARMONIC ANALYSIS OF THE TIDE
CHAPTER XII
REDUCTION OF TIDAL OBSERVATIONS
CHAPTER XIII
TIDE TABLES
CHAPTER XIV
THE DEGREE OF ACCURACY OF TIDAL PREDICTION
CHAPTER XV
CHANDLER'S NUTATION|THE RIGIDITY OF THE EARTH
CHAPTER XVI
TIDAL FRICTION
CHAPTER XVII
TIDAL FRICTION (con’t)
CHAPTER XVIII
THE FIGURES OF EQUILIBRIUM OF A ROTATING MASS OF
LIQUID
CHAPTER XIX
THE EVOLUTION OF CELESTIAL SYSTEMS
CHAPTER XX
SATURN'S RINGS
A mathematical argument is, after all, only organized common sense, and it is well that men of science should not always expound their work to the few behind a veil of technical language, but should from time to time explain to a larger public the reasoning which lies behind their mathematical notation. To a man unversed in popular exposition it needs a great effort to shell away the apparatus of investigation and the technical mode of speech from the thing behind it, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Lowell, trustee of the Institute, for having afforded me the occasion for making that effort.
It is not unlikely that the first remark of many who see my title will be that so small a subject as the Tides cannot demand a whole volume; but, in fact, the subject branches out in so many directions that the difficulty has been to attain to the requisite compression of my matter. Many popular works on astronomy devote a few pages to the Tides, but, as far as I know, none of these books contain explanations of the practical methods of observing and predicting the Tides, or give any details as to the degree of success attained by tidal predictions. If these matters are of interest, I invite my readers not to confine their reading to this preface. The later chapters of this book are devoted to the consideration of several branches of speculative Astronomy, with which the theory of the Tides has an intimate relationship. The problems involved in the origin and history of the solar and of other celestial systems have little bearing upon our life on the earth, yet these questions can hardly fail to be of interest to all those whose minds are in any degree permeated by the scientific spirit.
I think that there are many who would like to understand the Tides, and will make the attempt to do so provided the exposition be sufficiently simple and clear; it is to such readers I address this volume. It is for them to say how far I have succeeded in rendering these intricate subjects interesting and intelligible, but if I have failed it has not been for lack of pains.
In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity of thanking my American audience for the cordiality of their reception, and my many friends across the Atlantic for their abundant hospitality and kindness.
G. H. DARWIN
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Definition of tide
Oceanic tides
Methods of observation
Tide-gauge
Tide-curve
Site for tide-gauge
Irregularities in tide-curve
CHAPTER II
SEICHES IN LAKES
Meaning of seiche
Uses of scientific apparatus
Forel's plemyrameter
Records of the level of the lake
Interpretation of record
Limnimeter
Mode of oscillation in seiches
Wave motion in deep and in shallow water
Composition of waves
Periods of seiches
Causes of seiches
Vibrations due to wind and to steamers
Aerial waves and their action on lakes and on the sea
CHAPTER III
TIDES IN RIVERS|TIDE MILLS
Definition of ebb and flow
Tidal currents in rivers
Progressive change of wave in shallow water
The bore
CHAPTER IV
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Theories of the Chinese
Theories of the Arabs
Theories of the Norsemen
Writings of Posidonius and Strabo
Seleucus the Babylonian on the diurnal inequality
Galileo and Kepler
Newton and his successors
Empirical method of tidal prediction
CHAPTER V
TIDE-GENERATING FORCE
CHAPTER VI
DEFLECTION OF THE VERTICAL
CHAPTER VII
THE ELASTIC DISTORTION OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE BY
VARYING LOADS
CHAPTER VIII
EQUILIBRIUM THEORY OF TIDES
CHAPTER IX
DYNAMICAL THEORY OF THE TIDE WAVE
CHAPTER X
TIDES IN LAKES|COTIDAL CHART
CHAPTER XI
HARMONIC ANALYSIS OF THE TIDE
CHAPTER XII
REDUCTION OF TIDAL OBSERVATIONS
CHAPTER XIII
TIDE TABLES
CHAPTER XIV
THE DEGREE OF ACCURACY OF TIDAL PREDICTION
CHAPTER XV
CHANDLER'S NUTATION|THE RIGIDITY OF THE EARTH
CHAPTER XVI
TIDAL FRICTION
CHAPTER XVII
TIDAL FRICTION (con’t)
CHAPTER XVIII
THE FIGURES OF EQUILIBRIUM OF A ROTATING MASS OF
LIQUID
CHAPTER XIX
THE EVOLUTION OF CELESTIAL SYSTEMS
CHAPTER XX
SATURN'S RINGS
