The Correlation and Conservation of Forces: A Series of ExpositionD. Appleton, 1865 - 438 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according æther amount of heat animal appear assume asteroid atmosphere attraction become binary compounds bodies carbonic acid cause centimetres chemical action chemical affinity combination combustion compounds conservation of force correlation definite degree developed direction distance duced earth effect electric current electricity equal equivalent ether existence expansion experiments expression fact fall fluid friction glass gravity greater hydrogen increase instance iron Joule kilogrammes latent heat liquid magnetism mass matter mechanical force metal metres mode of force molecular move nature ordinary organic original oxygen particles perpetual motion phenomena Phil philosophers physical piston planets plate platinum polarised portion present principle produced quantity of heat question radiation raised rays regard relation rotation solar solar radius space specific heat substance sun's supposed surface temperature theory tion Trans tricity vapour velocity vis viva viva voltaic voltaic arc weight wire zinc
Popular passages
Page 368 - That gravity should be innate, inherent, and essential to matter, so that one body may act upon another at a distance through a vacuum, without the mediation of anything else, by and through which their action and force may be conveyed from one to another, is to me so great an. absurdity, that I believe no man who has in philosophical! matters a competent faculty of thinking, can ever fall into it.
Page 179 - In verbis etiam tenuis cautusque serendis, Dixeris egregie notum si callida verbum Reddiderit junctura novum. Si forte necesse est Indiciis monstrare recentibus abdita rerum, Fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis Continget, dabiturque licentia sumpta pudenter ; Et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem si Graeco fonte cadant, parce detorta.
Page xxii - ACTUALLY BOILED ! It would be difficult to describe the surprise and astonishment expressed in the countenances of the bystanders, on seeing so large a quantity of cold water heated, and actually made to boil, without any fire.
Page 80 - Yet nature is made better by no mean, But nature makes that mean: so, o'er that art, Which you say adds to nature, is an art That nature makes.
Page 214 - The similarity with the philosopher's stone sought by the ancient chemists was complete. That also was thought to contain the quintessence of organic life, and to be capable of producing gold. The spur which drove men to inquiry was sharp, and the talent of some of the seekers must not be estimated as small. The nature of the problem was quite calculated to entice poring brains, to lead them round a circle for years, deceiving ever with new expectations, which vanished upon nearer approach, and finally...
Page 231 - ... planet, we should find that it would require several cubic miles of such matter to weigh a single grain. The general attractive force of all matter must, however, impel these masses to approach each other, and to condense, so that the nebulous sphere became incessantly smaller...
Page xxiii - It is hardly necessary to add that anything which any insulated body, or system of bodies, can continue to furnish without limitation, cannot possibly be a material substance; and it appears to me to be extremely difficult, if not quite impossible, to form any distinct idea of anything capable of being excited and communicated in the manner the Heat was excited and communicated in these experiments, except it be MOTION.
Page 364 - ... appears to me we admit a creation of power and that to an enormous amount ; yet by a change of condition, so small and simple as to fail in leading the least instructed mind to think that it can be a sufficient cause, we should admit a result which would equal the highest act our minds can appreciate of the working of infinite power upon matter ; we should let loose the highest law in physical science which our faculties permit us to perceive, namely, the conservation of force.
Page 229 - Thomson, who, in the letters of a long known little mathematical formula, which only speaks of the heat, volume, and pressure of bodies, was able to discern consequences which threatened the universe, though certainly after an infinite period of time, with eternal death. I have already given you notice that our path lay through a thorny and unrefreshing field of mathematico-mechanical developments. We have now left this portion of our road behind us. The general principle which I have sought to lay...