Page:Collected Physical Papers.djvu/69

Rh From the above results it is seen that the effective thickness of the totally reflecting air-space increases with the wave-length. If the wave-lengths are proportional to the distance between the sparking surfaces which give rise to the oscillatory discharge, the wave-lengths in (b) and (c) are in the ratio of 101:76. This is not very different from the ratio of the corresponding minimum thicknesses of the totally reflecting air-space.

It was stated in the general account of the experiments, that as the thickness of air-space is gradually reduced the intensity of the transmitted portion of radiation is increased, while there is a corresponding diminution of the intensity of the reflected portion. This I have been able to verify qualitatively from numerous observations. But many difficulties are encountered in making quantitative measurements, owing to the difficulty of maintaining the intensity of radiation, as well as the sensitiveness of the receiver, absolutely constant.

As regards the first, the intensity of the emitted radiation depends on the efficiency of the secondary spark, and the nature of the sparking surface. Keeping the primary current that flows through the Ruhmkorff coil constant, the efficacy of the secondary spark is very much affected by the manner in which the contact is broken in the primary circuit. If a vibrating interrupter is used, the break is apt to become irregular; the torrent of the secondary sparks also spoils the spark-