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Abstract
Kelvin's 1887 speculation on an ideal foam structure, which was intended to serve as a model for the ether, was a highly imaginative conception, brilliantly carried through into detailed calculations. It eventually launched the Kelvin Problem, which asks how space may be partitioned into cells of fixed equal volume with minimum surface area. Although it could be said to be misguided in motivation, faulty in logic and even mistaken in its conclusions, the paper nevertheless stands as an enduring classic and Kelvin's foam remains of great interest today.
Acknowledgements
Research support is acknowledged: ESA/ESTEC, Science Foundation Ireland and a CNRS visiting appointment in 2007. I am grateful to Lord Kelvin's successor as Editor of this journal for the invitation to honour him.
Notes
‡The original paper from Philosophical Magazine 24 503 (1887) is reproduced as a facsimile following this commentary.