Description of a Reflective Goniometer

Author(s): William Hyde Wollaston

Source: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Vol. 99 (1809), pp. 253-258
Published by: The Royal Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/107265 .
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 of a reflective
XVI. Description Goniometer.By WilliamHyde
Wollaston,M. D. Sec.R. S,

ReadJune 8, 1809.

FrRoMthe advancesthat have been made of late years in

crystallography,a very large proportionof mineralsubstances
may now be recognised,if we can ascertainthe angulardi-
mensionsof tlheirexternalforms,or the relative positionof
those surfacesthat are exposed by fracture. But thoughthe
modificationsof tetrahedrons,of cubes,andof those otherre-
gular solids, to which the adventitiousaid of geometry could
be correctlyapplied,have been determinedwith the utmost
precision,yet Lithas been often a subjectof regret, that our
intrumentsfor measuringthe angles of crystals are not pos-
sessedof equalaccuracy,and thatin applyingthe goniometer
to small crystals,where the radiusin contactwith the surface
is necessarilyvery short,the measures,even when takenwith
a steadyhand,will often deviatetoo much from the truthto
aid us in determiningthe species to which a substancebe-
longs.
A means of remedyingthis defect has lately occurredto
me, by which in most cases the inclinationof surfaces may
be measuredas exactly as is wantedfor common purposes,
andwhen the surfacesare sufficientlysmoothto reflect a dis-
tinctimage of distantobjects,the positionof faces only z of
DcccIX. aLI

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w54 Dr. WOLLASTON's of a
Description
an inchin breadthmaybe determinedwith as muchprecision
as those of any larger crystals.
For this purpose,the ray of light reflectedfrom the sur-
face is employed as radius,insteadof the surfaceitself, and
accordinglyfor a radiusof -5 of an inch, we may substitute
eitherthe distanceof the eye from the crystal,whichwould
naturally be about twelve or fifteen inches; or for greater
accuracywe may, by a second mode, substitutethe distance
of objectsseen at a hundredor more yardsfrom us.
The instrumentwhichI use, consistsof a circle graduated
on its edge, and mountedon a horizontalaxle, supportedby
an upright pillar (Plate XI). This axle being perforated,
admitsthe passageof a smalleraxle throughit, to whichany
crystalof moderatesize may be attachedby a piece of wax,
with its edge, or intersectionof the surfaces,horizontaland
parallelto the axis of motion.
This positionof the crystalis first adjusted,so thatby turn-
ing the smalleraxle, each of the two surfaces,whose incli-
nationis to be measured,will reflect the same light to the
eye.
The circleis then set to zero,or 180o,by an indexattached
to the pillar that supports it.
The small axle is then turned till the furthersurfacere-
flects the light of a candle,or otherdefiniteobjectto the eye;
and, lastly, (the eye being kept steadilyin the same place)
the circleis turnedby its larger axle, till the second surface
reflects the same light. This second surfaceis thus ascer-
tainedto be in the same positionas the former surfacehad
been. The angle throughwhich the circle has moved, is in
factthe supplementto the inclinationof the surfaces; but as

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 rte?ctive Gonioletler. 2g.
the graduationson its marginare numberedaccordinglyin an
invertedorder, the angle is correctlyshewn by the index,
withoutneed of any computation.
It may here be observed, that it is by no means necessary
to have a clean uniformfracturefor this applicationof the in-
strumentto the structureof laminatedsubstances;for since
all those small portionsof a shatteredsurface,thatare parallel
to one another(thoughnot in the same plane),glisten at once
with the same light, the angle of an irregularfractulremay
be determinednearly as well, as when the reflecting frag-
ments are actuallyin the same plane.
In this method of taking the measureof an angle, when
the eye and candle are only ten or twelve inchesdistant,a
small errormay arise from parallax,if the intersectionof the
planesor edge of the crystal be not accuratelyin a line with
the axis of motion; but such an errormay be renderedin-
sensible,even in that mode of using the instrument,by due
carein placingthe crystal; and when the surfacesare suffi-
ciently smooth to reflect a distinctimage of objects, all error
from the same source may be entirelyobviatedby another
method of using it.
For this purpose,if the eye be broughtwithinaboutan inch
of the reflectingsurface,the reflectedimage of some distant
chimney may be seen inverted beneath its true place, and by

* I cannot omit mentioning, that Mr. SOWERBY had

thought of employing refec-
lion for this purpose, nearly at the same time as myself; but did not succeed to his
satisfaction, in consequence of an attempt to fix the position of the eye. For when
the line of sight is determirjed by a point connected with the apparatus, the radius
employed is thereby limited to the extent of the instrument, and the error from paral-
lax is manifestly increased.
LI1

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o256 Dr. WOLLASTON's Description of a

-turningthe small axle may be brought to correspond appa-

rently with the bottom of the house (or with some other dis-
tant horizontal line.) In this position the surface accurately
bisects the angle, which the height of that house subtends at
the eye (or rather at the reflecting surface); then, by turn-
ing the whole circle and crystal together, the other surface,
however small, may be brought exactly into the same posi-
tion; and the angle of the surfaces may thus be measured,
with a degree of precisionwhich has not hitherto been ex-
pected in goniometry.
The accuracy, indeed, of this instrument is such, that a
circle of moderate dimensions, with a vernier adapted to it,
will probably afford corrections to many former observa-:
tions. I have already remarked one instance of a mis-
take that prevails respecting the common carbonateof lime,
and I am induced to mention it, because this substance is
very likely to be employed as a test of the correctness of
such a goniometer, by any one who is not convinced of its
accuracy from a distinct conception of the principles of its
construction.
The inclinationof the surfacesof a primitive crystal of car-
bonate of lime is stated, with great appearanceof precision,to
be lo1 e8' 40": a result deduced from the supposed position
of its axis at an angle of 45? with each of the surfaces, and
from other seducing circumstancesof apparent harmony by
simple ratios. But however strong the presumption might
be that this angle, which by measurementapproachesto 45?,is
actually so, it must nevertheless be in fact about 450o o'; for
I find the inclination of the surfaces to each other is very
nearly, if not accurately io5?, as it was formerly determined

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 Goniometer.
reflective S25
to be by HUYGENs
;* and sincethe measureof the superficial
angle given by Sir ISAAc NEWTON corresponds witli this
determination of HUYGIENS, his evidence may be considered
as a further confirmation of the same result; for it may be
presumed, that he would not adopt the measures of others,
without a careful examination.

IN THE ANNEXED PLATE,

a b. Is the principalcircleof the goniometergraduatedon

its edge.
cc. The axle of the circle.
d. A milled head by which the circle is turned.
e e. The small axle for turning the crystal, withoutmoving
the circle.
f. A milled head on the small axle.
g. A brass plate supported by the pillar, and graduated as
a vernier to every five minutes.
h. The extremity of a small spring, by which the circle is
stopped at 180?,without the trouble of reading off.
ii and kk. Are two centers of motion, the one horizontal,
the other vertical for adjusting the position of a crystal: one
turned by the handle 1, the other by the milled head m.

The crystal being attachedto a screw-head at the point n

(in the center of all the motions), with one of its surfaces as

HuyYGcEII Opera Reliqua, Tom. I.

p. 73 -Tract. de Lumine.
NEWTON'sOiptics,8vo. p. 329. Qu. 25, concerningIcelandCrystal.

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?5?8 &Dr.WOLLASTON'S &c,
Description,
nearly parallel as may be to the milled headm, is next ren-
dered truly parallel to the axis by turningthe handleI till
the reflected image of a horizontalline is seen to be hori-
zontal.
By meansof the milled headf, the secondsurfaceis then
broughtinto the positionof the first,andif the reflectedimage
from this surfaceis foundnot to be horizontal,it is rendered
so by turning the milled head m, and since this motionis
parallelto the first surface,it does not derangethe preceding
adjustment.

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 P ,10S. AT"nr'.MD CCCLTY.fhlaKXiL.p. 258.

?l

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