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Giovanni Rizzetti: Challenge to Newton's Optical Experiments

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9282

Scope and Contents

The volume contains a draft letter from Rizzetti to Christino Martinelli, c.1720, with a description of Newton's experiment leading to the discovery of the aberration of light, and Rizzetti's experiment contradicting Newton's results; and two diagrams on refraction (p.13), the 'Anatomical composition of the eye' and the 'Aberration in telescopes with different lenses'. There are references to Descartes, Huygens and Tschirnhaus.

Dates

  • Creation: 1720 (Circa)

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

1 volume(s) (1 volume)

Language of Materials

Italian

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased 1995

Related Materials

Newton's copy of Rizzetti's letter is at King's College (Keynes MS 103).

Bibliography

Excerpts from the letter were published in Acta Eruditorum (1726), De luminis affectionibus (Treviso, 1727), and Saggio dell' antineutonianismo sopra le leggi del moto e dei colori (Venice, 1741).
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
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