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The system of the world Volume 1
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1809 edition. ...on the tides, as in the case of its being infinite. We may therefore consider the ocean as constantly in equilibrio, under the action of fictitious bodies, which produce tides of the third class, which may be determined in this hypothesis. These tides are very small, but are nevertheless sensible at Brest, and correspond to the result of calculations. I have entered into a long detail on the tides, because it is the nearest and most perceptible result of the celestial attractions to us, and one most worthy the attention of philosophers. We see, by the exposition which I have made, the agreement of the theory of the tides, founded on the law of universal gravitation, with the phenomena of the heights and interval of the tides. If the Earth had no satellite, if its orbit was circular, and situated on the plane of the equator, we should only have had, to have enable us to recognize the action of the Sun upon the ocean, the hour of high water always the same, and the law of its formation. But the action of the Moon, combining with that of the Sun, produces in the tides varieties relative to its phases, which, by their agreement with observation, give a great probability to the truth of the theory of gravitation. All the inequalities of motion, produced by the declinations and distances of these two bodies, give rise to a number of phenomena, which, being recognized by observation, place this theory out of the shadow of doubt. It is thus that the varieties in the action of causes, establish their existence. The action of the Sun and Moon on the Earth, a necessary consequence of the universal attraction, demonstrated by all the celestial phenomena, being directly confirmed by the phenomena of the tides, ought to leave no uncertainty on the subject. It...
58 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2007
54 people want to read
About the author
Pierre-Simon Laplace
356 books64 followersPeople note theory of French mathematician and astronomer Marquis Pierre Simon de Laplace of a nebular origin of the solar system and his investigations into gravity and the stability of planetary motion.
His pivotal work led to the development of statistics. He summarized and extended the work of his predecessors in his five-volume Mécanique Céleste (Celestial Mechanics) (1799–1825). This work translated the geometric study of classical mechanics to one based on calculus, opening up a broader range of problems. In statistics, the Bayesian interpretation of probability was developed mainly by Laplace.
Laplace formulated Laplace's equation and pioneered the Laplace transform in many branches of mathematical physics, a field that he took a leading role in forming. People also named the Laplacian differential operator, widely used in mathematics. He restated and developed the nebular hypothesis of the origin of the solar system and was one of the first scientists to postulate the existence of black holes and the notion of gravitational collapse.
Laplace is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of all time. Sometimes referred to as the French Newton or Newton of France, he possessed a phenomenal natural mathematical faculty superior to that of any of his contemporaries.
Laplace became a count of the First French Empire in 1806 and was named a marquis in 1817, after the Bourbon Restoration.
A frequently cited interaction between Laplace and Napoleon purportedly concerns the existence of God. A typical version is provided by Rouse Ball:
Laplace went in state to Napoleon to present a copy of his work, and the following account of the interview is well authenticated, and so characteristic of all the parties concerned that I quote it in full. Someone had told Napoleon that the book contained no mention of the name of God; Napoleon, who was fond of putting embarrassing questions, received it with the remark, 'M. Laplace, they tell me you have written this large book on the system of the universe, and have never even mentioned its Creator.' Laplace, who, though the most supple of politicians, was as stiff as a martyr on every point of his philosophy, drew himself up and answered bluntly, Je n'avais pas besoin de cette hypothèse-là. ("I had no need of that hypothesis.")
Laplace's early published work in 1771 started with differential equations and finite differences but he was already starting to think about the mathematical and philosophical concepts of probability and statistics. However, before his election to the Académie in 1773, he had already drafted two papers that would establish his reputation. The first, Mémoire sur la probabilité des causes par les événements was ultimately published in 1774 while the second paper, published in 1776, further elaborated his statistical thinking and also began his systematic work on celestial mechanics and the stability of the solar system. The two disciplines would always be interlinked in his mind. "Laplace took probability as an instrument for repairing defects in knowledge." Laplace's work on probability and statistics is discussed below with his mature work on the analytic theory of probabilities.
The asteroid 4628 Laplace is named for Laplace.
His name is one of the 72 names inscribed on the Eiffel Tower.
The tentative working name of the European Space Agency Europa Jupiter System Mission is the "Laplace" space probe.
His pivotal work led to the development of statistics. He summarized and extended the work of his predecessors in his five-volume Mécanique Céleste (Celestial Mechanics) (1799–1825). This work translated the geometric study of classical mechanics to one based on calculus, opening up a broader range of problems. In statistics, the Bayesian interpretation of probability was developed mainly by Laplace.
Laplace formulated Laplace's equation and pioneered the Laplace transform in many branches of mathematical physics, a field that he took a leading role in forming. People also named the Laplacian differential operator, widely used in mathematics. He restated and developed the nebular hypothesis of the origin of the solar system and was one of the first scientists to postulate the existence of black holes and the notion of gravitational collapse.
Laplace is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of all time. Sometimes referred to as the French Newton or Newton of France, he possessed a phenomenal natural mathematical faculty superior to that of any of his contemporaries.
Laplace became a count of the First French Empire in 1806 and was named a marquis in 1817, after the Bourbon Restoration.
A frequently cited interaction between Laplace and Napoleon purportedly concerns the existence of God. A typical version is provided by Rouse Ball:
Laplace went in state to Napoleon to present a copy of his work, and the following account of the interview is well authenticated, and so characteristic of all the parties concerned that I quote it in full. Someone had told Napoleon that the book contained no mention of the name of God; Napoleon, who was fond of putting embarrassing questions, received it with the remark, 'M. Laplace, they tell me you have written this large book on the system of the universe, and have never even mentioned its Creator.' Laplace, who, though the most supple of politicians, was as stiff as a martyr on every point of his philosophy, drew himself up and answered bluntly, Je n'avais pas besoin de cette hypothèse-là. ("I had no need of that hypothesis.")
Laplace's early published work in 1771 started with differential equations and finite differences but he was already starting to think about the mathematical and philosophical concepts of probability and statistics. However, before his election to the Académie in 1773, he had already drafted two papers that would establish his reputation. The first, Mémoire sur la probabilité des causes par les événements was ultimately published in 1774 while the second paper, published in 1776, further elaborated his statistical thinking and also began his systematic work on celestial mechanics and the stability of the solar system. The two disciplines would always be interlinked in his mind. "Laplace took probability as an instrument for repairing defects in knowledge." Laplace's work on probability and statistics is discussed below with his mature work on the analytic theory of probabilities.
The asteroid 4628 Laplace is named for Laplace.
His name is one of the 72 names inscribed on the Eiffel Tower.
The tentative working name of the European Space Agency Europa Jupiter System Mission is the "Laplace" space probe.
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