D26 



h^ = lm. The former is in contradiction with the experimental 

 result that bg, and so also b decreases with decrease of temperature; 

 the latter seems in opposition to the theoretical result that for infini- 

 tel}' large volume b^ must always be = 4/7i, and cannot possibly 

 therefore assume the value 2m, however low the temperature may be. 

 Yet the latter is the only possible supposition. We shall return 

 to this at the close of this paper, and we shall then propose a 

 supposition which may be alleged as an explication of this appa- 

 rently so singular behaviour. 



9. Let us first consider the forms which present themselves most 

 readily, but cannot satisfy the equations (24), in connection with 

 the convergency to /;„ and v^. 



When we put generally : 



b — hg-afy^y (a) 



in which f{v) is such that this function becomes = for ?; = oo, 

 and increases with decreasing v, then 



hence also 





b=b,-{b,-bf,)'^ (b) 



An) 



when we briefly write ƒ(?') for /' 

 From this follows : 



hence 



b,-bk -fivic) j„ b,-bkf"{vk) 



^ A^^k) ?' An) 



therefoi'e 



-b"k^ 1 /"(vk) 

 b'k ~ ? -f\vk)' 

 But as according to (24) also 



- b"k 1 - b'k 



we have necessarily 



b'k bk—b, 



8^= ....*. ..(c) 



1 - b'k -f\vk) ^ ^ 



