It is surprising that so great a mathematician as Dr. Smith could have entertained for a moment, an idea that the vibrations constituting different sounds should be able to cross each other in all directions, without affecting the same individual particles of air by their joint forces: undoubtedly they cross, without disturbing each other's progress; but this can be no otherwise effected than by each particle's partaking of both motions. If this assertion stood in need of any proof, it might be amply furnished by the phenomena of beats, and of the grave harmonics observed...


"Outlines of Experiments and Inquiries Respecting Sound and Light" (1800)


It is surprising that so great a mathematician as Dr. Smith could have entertained for a moment, an idea that the vibrations constituting different...

It is surprising that so great a mathematician as Dr. Smith could have entertained for a moment, an idea that the vibrations constituting different...

It is surprising that so great a mathematician as Dr. Smith could have entertained for a moment, an idea that the vibrations constituting different...

It is surprising that so great a mathematician as Dr. Smith could have entertained for a moment, an idea that the vibrations constituting different...