Abstract
M. ARTHUR ROCHE, Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at the Lycée of Montpellier, died at that town on April 18 last, in the sixty-third year of his age. M. Roche's name is most intimately associated with researches on the figures of planets and comets, and the cosmogonic theory of Laplace. In the report on the labours of Roche made to the Academy of Sciences last week by M. F. Tisserand, his memoirs were thus classified:—1. Various memoirs on the equilibrium of a homogeneous fluid mass subjected to certain conditions. These had special reference to the beautiful researches of mathematicians on the equilibrium of a homogeneous fluid mass, animated by a movement of rotation around its axis, the molecules of which are attracted according to the law of Newton. M. Roche proposed to determine the figure of equilibrium by taking into account a new force—the attraction exerted by a centre situated at a great distance. M. Roche worked out this idea with great success, applying it specially to the moon, to the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, to comets, and generally to the evolution of the solar system. 2. Memoirs on the physical constitution of the terrestrial globe, in which he came to the conclusion that the density at the centre is nearly double the mean density. 3. Memoirs on the internal condition of the globe, in which M. Roche was led to pronounce against the complete fluidity of the interior. 4. Various memoirs on the figures of comets. 5. Essay on the constitution of the solar system, in which M. Roche attempted to develop the beautiful cosmogonic theory of Laplace, giving precision to certain points and modifying it in others. M. Roche was a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences in the Section of Astronomy, and had been nominated as a candidate for the place vacant by the death of M. Liouville.
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Professor Arthur Roche . Nature 28, 11–12 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/028011a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/028011a0