where ${\displaystyle V'}$ and ${\displaystyle V''}$ denote the volumes of the masses of the phases ${\displaystyle A}$ and ${\displaystyle B}$ which are replaced. Now by (500),

${\displaystyle p_{C}-p_{A}={\frac {2\sigma _{AC}}{r'}}}$,⁠and⁠${\displaystyle p_{C}-p_{B}={\frac {2\sigma _{BC}}{r''}}\cdot }$

(565)

We have also the geometrical relations

${\displaystyle V'={\tfrac {2}{3}}\pi r'^{2}x'-{\tfrac {1}{3}}\pi R^{2}(r'-x'),}$	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$
${\displaystyle V''={\tfrac {2}{3}}\pi r''^{2}x''-{\tfrac {1}{3}}\pi R^{2}(r''-x'').}$

By substitution we obtain

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}N={\tfrac {4}{3}}\pi \sigma _{AC}r'x'&-{\tfrac {2}{3}}\pi R^{2}\sigma _{AC}{\frac {r'-x'}{r'}}\\&+{\tfrac {4}{3}}\pi \sigma _{BC}r''x''-{\tfrac {2}{3}}\pi R^{2}\sigma _{BC}{\frac {r''-x''}{r''}},\\\end{aligned}}}$

(567)

and by (561),

${\displaystyle N={\tfrac {4}{3}}\pi \sigma _{AC}r'x'+{\tfrac {4}{3}}\pi \sigma _{BC}r''x''-{\tfrac {2}{3}}\pi R^{2}\sigma _{AB}.}$

(568)

Since

${\displaystyle 2\pi r'x'=s_{AC},}$⁠${\displaystyle 2\pi r''x''=s_{BC}}$⁠${\displaystyle \pi R^{2}=s_{AB},}$

we may write

${\displaystyle N={\tfrac {2}{3}}(\sigma _{AC}s_{AC}+\sigma _{BC}s_{BC}-\sigma _{AB}s_{AB}).}$

(569)

(The reader will observe that the ratio of ${\displaystyle M}$ and ${\displaystyle N}$ is the same as that of the corresponding quantities in the case of the spherical mass treated on pages 252–258.) We have therefore

${\displaystyle W={\tfrac {1}{3}}(\sigma _{AC}s_{AC}+\sigma _{BC}s_{BC}-\sigma _{AB}s_{AB}).}$

(570)

This value is positive so long as

${\displaystyle \sigma _{AC}+\sigma _{bc}>\sigma _{AB},}$

But at the limit, when

we see by (561) that

${\displaystyle s_{AC}=s_{AB},}$⁠and⁠${\displaystyle s_{BC}=s_{AB},}$

It should however be observed that in the immediate vicinity of the circle in which the three surfaces of discontinuity intersect, the physical state of each of these surfaces must be affected by the vicinity of the others. We cannot, therefore, rely upon the formula (570) except when the dimensions of the lentiform mass are of sensible magnitude.

We may conclude that after we pass the limit at which ${\displaystyle p_{C}}$ becomes greater than ${\displaystyle p_{A}}$ and ${\displaystyle p_{B}}$ (supposed equal) lentiform masses of phase ${\displaystyle C}$ will not be formed until either ${\displaystyle \sigma _{AB}=\sigma _{AC}+\sigma _{BC}}$, or ${\displaystyle p_{C}-p_{A}}$ becomes so great that the lentiform mass which would be in equilibrium is one