scholarly journals XXIII. Observations and experiments on the daily variation of the horizontal and dipping needles under a reduced directive power

1823 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 326-341 ◽  

It is now just a century since Mr. Graham discovered the daily change in the variation of the horizontal needle, subse­quent to which time numerous observations have been made on the same subject by Wargentin, Canton, Gilpin, Colonel Beaufoy and others, which have all confirmed, with certain shades of variety, the general fact as first described by the ingenious philosopher above named. The actual daily change however is so small, even in the horizontal needle, that it can only be detected with the most careful observations and with the most delicate instruments; and in the dipping needle that change, if any, is so extremely minute, as hitherto to have escaped observation : for it was only in the year 1820, that the Royal Academy of Sciences of Copenhagen proposed the determination of this motion, on satisfactory experiments, as the prize subject for that year; but the prize, I understand, has never been adjudged, no satisfactory communication having been received.

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-481
Author(s):  
Fernando B. Figueiredo ◽  
João Fernandes

In 1782 José Monteiro da Rocha, astronomer and professor at the University of Coimbra, presented, in a public session of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, a memoire on the problem of the determination of the orbits of comets. Only in 1799 would the “ Determinação das Orbitas dos Cometas” (Determination of the orbits of comets) be published in the Academy’s memoires. In that work, Monteiro da Rocha presents a method for solving the problem of the determination of the parabolic orbit of a comet making use of three observations. Monteiro da Rocha’s method is essentially the same as the method proposed by Olbers and published under von Zach’s sponsorship 2 years before, in 1797. Having been written and published in Portuguese was certainly a hindrance for its dissemination among the international astronomical community. In this paper, we intend to present Monteiro da Rocha’s method and try to explain to what extent we can justify Gomes Teixeira’s assertion that Monteiro da Rocha and Olbers must figure together in the history of astronomy, as the first inventors of a practical and easy method for the determination of parabolic orbits of comets.


1828 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 153-239 ◽  

In the year 1790, a series of trigonometrical operations was carried on by General Roy, in co-operation with Messrs. De Cassini, Mechain, and Legendre, for the purpose of connecting the meridians of Paris and Greenwich. In England, the work commenced with a base measured on Hounslow Heath, whence triangles were carried through Hanger Hill Tower and Severndroog Castle on Shooter’s Hill, to Fairlight Down, Folkstone Turnpike, and Dover Castle on the English coast; which last stations were connected with the church of Notre Dame at Calais, and with Blancnez and Montlambert upon the coast of France. An account of these operations will be found in the Philosophical Transactions for 1790. In the year 1821, the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Board of Longitude at Paris communicated to the Royal Society of London their desire, that the operations for connecting the meridians of Paris and Greenwich should be repeated jointly by both countries, and that commissioners should be nominated by the Royal Academy of Sciences and by the Royal Society of London for that purpose. This proposal having been readily acceded to, Messrs. Arago and Matthieu were chosen on the part of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and Lieut.-Colonel (then Captain) Colby and myself were appointed by the Royal Society to co-operate with them.


Nuncius ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Bret

Abstract This study examines the science and technology prize system of the Académie des Sciences through a first survey of the prizes granted over the period extending from the 1720s to the end of the 19th century. No reward policy was envisaged by the Royal Academy of Sciences in the Réglement (statute) promulgated by King Louis XIV in 1699. Prizes were proposed later, first by private donors and then by the state, and awarded in international contests setting out specific scientific or technical problems for savants, inventors and artists to solve. Using cash prizes, under the Ancien Régime the Academy effectively directed and funded research for specific purposes set by donors. By providing it with significant extra funding, the donor-sponsored prizes progressively gave the Academy relative autonomy from the political power of the state. In the 19th century, with the growing awareness of the importance of scientific research, the main question became whether to use the prizes to reward past achievements or to incentivize future research, and the scale and nature of the prizes changed.


1746 ◽  
Vol 44 (482) ◽  
pp. 388-395

The World is much obliged to Mons. le Monnier for the many Discoverics he has made of the Power of Electricity; though the Reason of my troubling you with this Paper at this time, is my differing with that Gentleman in the Conclusions which he deduces from several of the Experiments contain’d in his Memoir lately presented to the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris , his own Extract of which was lately communicated to the Royal Society .


1746 ◽  
Vol 44 (482) ◽  
pp. 408-412 ◽  

Honoured Sir , The Subjects of Natural History are often strange and uncommon; but the Authors who have treated on them have not failed, on their Parts, to support and raise the Wonder, and once conceived Astonishment, by ascribing Properties which never existed in Nature; thus indulging the Humour of finding a Marvellous in all Things, Truths have been greatly obscured, and Errors propagated without Number.


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-29
Author(s):  
Ramon Pascual

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
Anton I. Belkin

Review of the book Mind Games: towards understanding the nature of prejudice and conflict, or how to learn to live in peace by Terrence Webster-Doyle. Mind Games: To understand the roots of prejudice and how to learn live peacefully: a scientific and educational publication. T. Webster-Doyle. Samara Cultural Society Artifact-Cultural Diversity. Samara: Samara Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences; 2020. 55 p. Reviewer considers that T. Webster-Doyles book is a brilliant example of how conflicts can be resolved most effectively without theorized distraction. T. Webster-Doyles book is small in volume, but very significant in content. The author offers a real program for taming the conflicts and violence that fill the entire human history. Until now, there is a clear lack of research on the universal determinants of the emergence and dynamics of conflict. A paradoxical situation arises when methods of conflict resolution are studied and modified, despite the fact that its initial determinants are not accurately determined. The models of taming conflicts that are being replicated in the social sciences almost do not solve the very problem of overcoming violence in society. Note that T. Webster-Doyle defines her book as the most significant work of her life. The author proposes an original approach to the determination of the conflict and defines the ways of its resolution in direct relationship with the understanding of its determinants. Also, the advantage of the book is a good literary presentation of the material. T. Webster-Doyle views conflict as a phenomenon created by the human mind, which at the same time, in a paradox, is trying to solve a problem which it itself creates. This work is devoted to the study of the determinants of conflict, which are considered comprehensively in the relationship of biological and social determinants: as generated by genetically programmed brain programs and at the same time as a function of peoples perception of the world around them and each other. The author notes that the universal basis of biological programming is the general motivation the desire to survive. Consequently, this work presents a program for resolving the conflict based on a comprehensive consideration of the conflict as a sociobiological phenomenon, which is based on the conditioned thinking of a person (primordial biological protection of his brain). The advantage of the book is its versatility. The author does not just consider the problem of the conflict, its components, the parties to the conflict, conflict genes, the incident, etc. He is looking for an approach that allows you to take a fresh look at this problem and find ways to prevent and destroy the conflict.


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