III. On the thickness of soap films

Abstract

Attempts have from time to time been made by various physicists obtain from the phenomena of capillarity, or from observations on liquid films, an indication of the magnitude of the radius of molecular attraction. The authors of this note have, with the same object in view lately made a series of experiments to determine whether the law that the resistance offered to the electric current by a uniformly thick homogenous body varies inversely as the section is or is not apparent obeyed by liquid films, as any apparent departure from that law might be taken to indicate a want of homogeneity, or that the thickness of the film was comparable with the magnitude of the radius of molecular attraction. Their investigations on this point are not as yet sufficiently advanced for publication; but in the course of their work they have made some observations on the forms of soap films, which they venture to lay before the Royal Society in a preliminary note.