| RefNo | PP/18/9 |
| Previous numbers | PP/50/10 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Paper, 'On instability of periodic motion' by William Thomson |
| Date | 1891 |
| Description | A printed proof of Thomson's paper. Thomson writes: 'Let ψ, φ, χ, ϑ be generalised coordinates of a system; and let A (ψ, φ, . . . . , ψ', φ', . . . . ) be the action in a path (2 above) from the configuration (ψ', φ',. . . .) to the configuration (ψ, φ, . . . .) with kinetic energy (E—V) with any given constant value for E, the total energy; V being the potential energy, of which the value is given for every possible configuration of the system.' Includes a postscript, dated 10 November 1891, in which Thomson discusses Henri Poincaré's 'Sur le problème des trois corps et les équations de la dynamique'.
Annotations in pencil and ink.
Subject: Physics / Mathematics
Received 12 November 1891. Read 26 November 1891.
A version of this paper was published in volume 50 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On instability of periodic motion'. |
| Extent | 10p |
| Format | Printed |
| Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink and graphite pencil on paper |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedMaterial | DOI: 10.1098/rspl.1891.0026 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA1719 | Poincare; Jules Henri (1854 - 1912) | 1854 - 1912 |
| NA8289 | Thomson; William (1824 - 1907); Baron Kelvin of Largs; physicist | 1824 - 1907 |