Journeys in physics: Chasing shadows, measuring meridians

Authors

  • Josep Batlló Dom Luiz Institute. University of Lisbon (Portugal).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.79.2638

Keywords:

eclipse, Meridian, weather, relativity, travel

Abstract

From the seventeenth century on, problems in physics became the object of careful study. These were mainly related to astronomy and the shape of the Earth, which called for organized scientific expeditions to take measurements in different places. Here we present some of these problems and the solutions adopted at the time.

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Author Biography

Josep Batlló, Dom Luiz Institute. University of Lisbon (Portugal).

Researcher at the Dom Luiz Institute. University of Lisbon (Portugal).

References

Amengual, A.; Pons, G. X. and J. March (eds.), 2005. Conferències de les Jornades de Commemoració i Estudi de l’eclipsi total de Sol a la Mallorca de 1905. Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears. Palma.

Batlló, J., 2008. «Notes on the History of International Polar Years in Catalonia and Spain». Tethys, 5: 47-57. DOI: <10.3369/tethys.2008.5.05>.

Cook, J., 1922. James Cook comandante del “Endeavour”: relación de su primer viaje alrededor del mundo durante los años 1768, 1769, 1770 y 1771. Calpe. Madrid.

Cook, J. and J. M. Mohr, 1771. «Transitus Veneris & Mercurii in Eorum Exitu e Disco Solis, 4to Mensis Junii & 10mo Novembris, 1769, Observatus. Communicated by Capt. James Cook». Philosophical Transactions, 61: 433-436. DOI: <10.1098/rstl.1771.0046>.

Dyson, F. W.; Eddington, A. S. and C. Davidson, 1920. «A Determination of the Deflection of Light by the Sun’s Gravitational Field, from Observations Made at the Total Eclipse of May 29, 1919». Philosophical Transactions. Series A, 220: 291-333. DOI: <10.1098/rsta.1920.0009>.

Flammarion, C., 1910. Astronomy for Amateurs. D. Appleton & Company. New York. Available at: <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25267/25267-h/25267-h.htm>.

Halley, E., 1716. «A New Method of Determining the Parallax of the Sun, or His Distance from the Earth». Philosophical Transactions, 29(338-350): 454-464. DOI: <10.1098/rstl.1714.0056>.

Juan, J. and A. Ulloa, 1748. Relacion histórica del viage a la América Meridional... para medir algunos grados de meridiano terrestre... Antonio Marin. Madrid. Available at the National Spanish Library website: <http://www.bne.es/es/Micrositios/Guias/12Octubre/CienciaExploracion/JorgeJuan/SeleccionObras/>.

Lafuente, A. and A. Mazuecos, 1987. Los Caballeros del Punto Fijo. Serbal. Barcelona.

Ruiz-Castell, P., 2008. Astronomy and Astrophysics in Spain (1850–1914). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Newcastle.

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Published

2014-06-01

How to Cite

Batlló, J. (2014). Journeys in physics: Chasing shadows, measuring meridians. Metode Science Studies Journal, (4), 139–145. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.79.2638
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Issue

The spirit of science (2014)

Section

Pathfinders in science. Expeditions and voyages of discovery

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