SOAP-BUBBLES
AND THE
FORCES WHICH MOULD THEM.
Experiment for showing by intermittent light theapparently stationary drops into which a fountain is broken up by theaction of a musical sound. (See page 109.)SOAP-BUBBLES
AND THE
FORCES WHICH MOULD THEM.
BEING A COURSE OF THREE LECTURES
DELIVERED IN THE THEATRE OF THE LONDON
INSTITUTION ON THE AFTERNOONS OF DEC. 30, 1889,
JAN. 1 AND 3, 1890, BEFORE A JUVENILE AUDIENCE.
BY
C. V. BOYS, A.R.S.M., F.R.S.,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, SOUTHKENSINGTON.
PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE GENERAL LITERATURE COMMITTEE.
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,
LONDON: NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.;
43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.
BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET.
New York: E. & J. B. YOUNG & CO.
1896.
TO
G. F. RODWELL,
THE FIRST
SCIENCE-MASTER APPOINTED AT MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE,
This Book is Dedicated
BY THE AUTHOR
AS A TOKEN OF ESTEEM AND GRATITUDE,
AND IN THE HOPE THAT
IT MAY EXCITE IN A FEW YOUNG PEOPLE SOME SMALL
FRACTION OF THE INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM WHICH
HIS ADVENT AND HIS LECTURES AWAKENED
IN THE AUTHOR, UPON WHOM THE LIGHT
OF SCIENCE THEN SHONE FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
PREFACE.
I would ask those readers who have grown up, and who may be disposed tofind fault with this book, on the ground that in so many points it isincomplete, or that much is so elementary or well known, to rememberthat the lectures were meant for juveniles, and for juveniles only.These latter I would urge to do their best to repeat the experimentsdescribed. They will find that in many cases no apparatus beyond a fewpieces of glass or india-rubber pipe, or other simple things easilyobtained are required. If they will take this trouble they will findthemselves well repaid, and if instead of being discouraged by a fewfailures they will persevere with the best means at their disposal, theywill soon find more to interest them in experiments in which they onlysucceed after a little trouble than in those[Pg viii] which go all right atonce. Some are so simple that no help can be wanted, while some willprobably be too difficult, even with assistance; but to encourage thosewho wish to see for themselves the experiments that I have described, Ihave given such hints at the end of the book as I thought would be mostuseful.
I have freely made use of the published work of many distinguished men,among whom I may mention Savart, Plateau, Clerk Maxwell, Sir WilliamThomson, Lord Rayleigh, Mr. Chichester Bell, and Prof. Rücker. Theexperiments have mostly been described by them, some have been takenfrom journals, and I have devised or arranged a few. I am also indebtedto Prof. Rücker for the use of various pieces of apparatus which hadbeen prepared for his lectures.
SOAP-BUBBLES, AND THE FORCES WHICH MOULD THEM.
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