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Hertz’s Experiments on Electromagnetic Waves

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A History of the Ideas of Theoretical Physics

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 213))

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Abstract

Heinrich Hertz’s decision to go to Helmholtz and to work in his laboratory in Berlin had great significance for his career in research. Helmholtz’s general outlook on science and physics had an initial bearing on Hertz’s own.

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Notes

  1. For details of Hertz’s life, see “Hertz, Heinrich Rudolf”, in: McCormmach [1971] Vol. 6, 340–349. Hertz’s scientific formation is studied by Buchwald [1992], “The Training of German Research Physicist Heinrich Hertz”, in: Nye, Richard and Stuwer [1992].

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  2. Heinrich Hertz, “Research on the Determination of an Upper Limit for the Kinetic Energy of the Electric Current”, in: Hertz [1880] 414–448; Hertz[1896] 1.

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  3. Hertz [1896] 3.

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  4. Hertz [1896] 33.

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  5. Hertz [1896] 34.

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  6. Helmholtz’s Preface to Hertz [1956] xxviii.

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  7. Hertz [1962] Introduction, “Theoretical” 23–26.

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  8. Hertz [1962] 1.

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  9. Hertz [1962] 2.

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  10. “Im Laboratorium die Arbeit begonnen über schnelle Schwingungen”. Note for 7 September 1887, in: Hertz Johanna [1928] 175.

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  11. Heinrich Hertz, “On the Relations between Maxwell’s Fundamental Electromagnetic Equations and the Fundamental Equations of the Opposing Electromagnetics”, in Hertz [1884]; Hertz [1896] 273–290.

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  12. According to Doncel (Doncel [1991]), these conclusions were not included in the Academy report and were added by Hertz on 17 February 1888, to the paper published in Wiedemann Annalen

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  13. Hertz [1962] 123, Paper No. 7, Conclusions.

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  14. Hertz [1962] 2. Concerning the further development of his experiments, Hertz maintained that “in altering the conditions I came upon the phenomenon of side sparks [secondary sparks] which formed the starting point of the following research”.

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  15. Hertz, “On Very Rapid Electric Oscillations”, in: Hertz (1962) 29–54, 29.

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  16. Hertz (1962] 33.

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  17. Hertz, “On Very Rapid Electric Oscllations”,in: Hertz [1962] 29–53, 42–43.

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  18. Hertz, “On an Effect of Ultraviolet Light Upon the Electric Discharge”, Hertz [1962] 63–79.

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  19. Henri Poincarè, Comptes Rendus, 3 [1891], 322.

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  20. Hertz, “Supplementary Notes, 1891”, in: Hertz [1962] 270.

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  21. Hertz, “Introduction, A) Experimental”, in: Hertz [1962] 4–5.

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  22. Hertz, “On the Action of a Rectilinear Electric Oscllation Upon a Neighbouring Circuit”, Wiedemann’s Annalen. 34 [1888], 155; reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 80–94.

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  23. Hertz [1962] 82–83.

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  24. Hertz [1962] 90–91.

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  25. Hertz [1962] 86–91.

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  26. Poincarè disagreed with Hertz’s interpretation of nodes: letter from Poincarè to Hertz, 11 September 1890 (Hertz’s Correspondence, Deutsches Museum, MS. 3000).; A. Righi maintained that the gap corresponded to an antinode, and modern theories would not accept either Hertz’s or Righi’s extreme positions.

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  27. Lodge [1894] 8–9.

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  28. Hertz, “On Electromagnetic Effects Produced by Electrical Disturbances in Insulators”, Sitzungsber. d. Berl. Akad. d. Wiss. (10 Novembre 1887); in Wiedemann’s Annalen, 34 [1888], 273; reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 95–106.

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  29. Hertz [1962] 96. D’Agostino [1976] 305.

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  30. Hertz [1962] 101.

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  31. Hertz [1962] 101.

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  32. A detailed interpretation of Hertz’s Academy Experiment in: Buchwald[1994] 254–261.

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  33. Hertz, “On the Finite Velocity of Propagation of Electromagnetic Actions”, presented at the Berlin Academy on 2 February 1888;reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 107–123.

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  34. Hertz [1962] 107.

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  35. Hertz [1962] 108.

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  36. Hertz [1962] 121. Hertz [1962] 151.

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  37. Hertz [1962] 121.

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  38. Hertz, “On Electromagnetic Waves in Air and Their Reflection.” Wiedemann’s Annalen, 34 [1888], 610; reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 124–136.

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  39. Hertz[1962] 133.

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  40. Hertz, “The Forces of Electric Oscillations, Treated According to Maxwell’s Theory”, Wiedemann’s Annalen, 36 [1889], 1; reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 137–159.

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  41. Hertz[1962] 140.

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  42. Hertz, Wiedemann’s Annalen, 36 [188]), 1; reprinted in: Hertz [1962 150.

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  43. Hertz [1962] 151.

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  44. Hertz [1962] 154.

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  45. Hertz [1962] 156.

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  46. Hertz[1962] 159.

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  47. Hertz[1962] 146.

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  48. Hertz [1962] 146; D’Agostino [1976] 318.

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  49. Hertz, “On the Propagation of Electric Waves by Means of Wires”, in: Hertz [1962] 160–171.

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  50. Heinrich Hertz, “On the Mechanical Action of Electric Waves in Wires”, Wiedemann’s Annalen, 42 (1891), 407; reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 186–194.

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  51. Hertz [1962] 160–161.

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  52. Hertz, “On Electric Radiation”, Sitzungsber. d. Berl. Akad. d. Wiss. (13 December 1888); in Wiedemann’s Annalen, 36 [1889], 769; reprinted in: Hertz [1962] 172–185.

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  53. Hertz[1962] 182–183.

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  54. Hertz [1962]124–136, 124.

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  55. Hertz[1962] 136.

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  56. Hertz, “On the Fundamental Equations of Electromagnetism for Bodies at Rest”, in: Hertz [1962] 195–241, 236.

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  57. Hertz “Introduction” 1–28, B) Theoretical, in: Hertz [1962] 22.

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  58. Hertz, “Introduction, A) Experimental”, in: Hertz [1962]. 6.

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  59. Hertz, “Introduction, A) Experimental”, in: Hertz [1962] 7.

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  60. Hertz, “Introduction, A) Experimental”, in: Hertz [1962] 7.

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  61. Hertz [1962] 195.

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  62. Hertz “On the Fundamental Equations of Electromagnetism for Bodies at Rest”, Hertz [1962] 199 ff.

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  63. On Helmholtz’s polarisation: Helmholtz [187]) 615–618; Helmholtz [1881]. See also papers XXXII–XLI, in: Helmholtz [1882].

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  64. Hertz, “On the Fundamental Equations of Electromagnetism for Bodies at Rest”, in: Hertz [1962] 195–241 Section 4; especially “Isotropic Non Conductors”, 202 ff.

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  65. Helmholtz [1881] 818 ff. Hertz [1962], Introduction, 25.

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  66. Hertz [1962] 25.

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  67. Cazenobe [1980] refers to polarisation theories in his analysis of Hertz’s approach to the decisive experiment. Hertz’s and Helmholtz’s PT are estensively examined in: Buchwald [1994] 375–388.

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  68. According to accurate dating in a recent essay (Doncel [1991]), the majority of this paper was written shortly before 21 January 1888.

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  69. Helmholtz [1870] 573, 577, 625, 627.

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  70. Hertz [1962], 107; paper no. 7, dated: “February 1888.

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  71. Hertz, Introduction, in: Hertz [1962] 6.

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  72. I remarked this omission in 1975 (D’Agostino [1975] 310, 311).

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  73. Hertz [1962] Introduction 7.

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  74. Concerning this point, I disagree with Buchwald’s thesis (Buchwald [1994] 262–266) on the point that Hertz awaringly changed his 1888 logic in his 1892 Introduction (See D’Agostino “Hertz’s View on the Methods of Physics: Experiment and Theory Reconciled?” in: Baird, Hughes & Nordmann [1998] 89–102.

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  1. Università “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy

    Salvo D’Agostino

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  1. Salvo D’Agostino
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© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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D’Agostino, S. (2000). Hertz’s Experiments on Electromagnetic Waves. In: A History of the Ideas of Theoretical Physics. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 213. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9034-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9034-6_6

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