On the Age of the Earth

Abstract

IT has been thought advisable to publish the following documents. On October 12 I put my views before Prof. Fitzgerald and Dr. Larmor. The first paper is a copy of my letter to Dr. Larmor. It has now been edited a little, as originally it was rather hurriedly written. Some long mathematical notes, added on November, I to prove the legitimacy of my approximate method of calculation, are now omitted, as Mr. Heaviside has given exact solutions, and has found that there is practically no difference between mine and the exact numerical answers. That Mr. Heaviside should have been able, in his letters to me during eleven days, to work out so many problems, all seemingly beyond the highest mathematical analysis, is surely a triumph for his new methods of working. Only for Prof. Fitzgerald's encouragement and sympathy, it is very probable that this document would never have been published.