Newtonian ballistic optics tested at the Jupiter satellites (Q1924553)

Newtonian optics was elaborated in detail by Clairaut, whose theory is summarized. Newton's hypotheses about the relationship between the colour and velocity of the corpuscles of light and their reaction to gravitation were challenged by a number of leading scientists. They made use of the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites and, later, of the observations of double stars and the Pleiades. The author follows their discussions up to Fresnel. The text is accompanied by a four-page list of references.