| RefNo | MS/603/3/53 |
| Previous numbers | 452 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Geo Fras [George Francis] Fitzgerald, Trinity College, Dublin, to [Joseph] Larmor |
| Creator | FitzGerald; George Francis (1851-1901); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Recipient | Larmor; Sir Joseph (1857-1942); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Date | 23 May 1894 |
| Description | He is enclosing the answer received from [Henry] Rowland about moving charges. Rowland does not think he tried whether a charge would be moved by a conductor, but he did try the experiment that Fitzgerald had thought to make. The result was as Fitzgerald had anticipated but Rowland is puzzled that although the force is on the matter, it it not due to matter's motion, but to the moving charge. Fitzgerald gives his interpretation of the result, thinking that they have enough data to calculate the conditions under which the charge would gradually begin to follow the plate. He gives an equation which might be put into units, telling them how long the electricity would take to get to the same velocity as the wire. He discusses inertia, vibration and charge in the wire at length and how to attack the problem. The way out of Rowland's difficulty is by means of the discrete nature of matter, he thinks. The difficulty is partly founded on Rowland's overlooking that mechanical force can only be exerted on matter. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7971 | Fitzgerald; George Francis (1851 - 1901) | 1851 - 1901 |