Treatise on Light by HUYGENS, Christiaan

Treatise on Light was published in 1690 and is probably the largest scientific volume on light published before Newton's Opticks. The book explains how light travels (i.e., that it has a certain velocity), and what happens when it hits a surface (refraction and reflection). A large portion of the book is devoted to the double refraction occurring in Iceland chrystal, and all drawn conclusions are proved geometrically.

  • 9 minutes 27 seconds
    Preface and Note by the Translator
  • 23 minutes 13 seconds
    I: On Rays Propagated in Straight Lines, Part 1
  • 21 minutes 10 seconds
    I: On Rays Propagated in Straight Lines, Part 2
  • 12 minutes 14 seconds
    II: On Reflexion
  • 13 minutes 4 seconds
    III: On Refraction, Part 1
  • 23 minutes 38 seconds
    III: On Refraction, Part 2
  • 13 minutes 42 seconds
    IV: On the Refraction of the Air
  • 22 minutes 17 seconds
    V: On the Strange Refraction of Iceland Chrystal, Part 1
  • 40 minutes 5 seconds
    V: On the Strange Refraction of Iceland Chrystal, Part 2
  • 29 minutes 5 seconds
    V: On the Strange Refraction of Iceland Chrystal, Part 3
  • 26 minutes 12 seconds
    V: On the Strange Refraction of Iceland Chrystal, Part 4
  • More Episodes? Get the App