Science Popularly Explained: The Principles of Natural and Physical Science, and Their Practical and Useful Applications to the Employments and Necessities of Common Life, Familiarly Explained, and Illustrated with Upwards of Two Hundred EngravingsW. Kent and Company, 1856 - 568 pages |
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Science Popularly Explained: The Principles of Natural and Physical Science ... David A. Wells No preview available - 2018 |
Science Popularly Explained: The Principles of Natural and Physical Science ... David A. Wells No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
absorb action animal appear atmosphere atmospheric pressure attraction bad conductor ball becomes body boiling called carbonic acid cause centre of gravity centrifugal force chemical circles of latitude clouds coal cold colder colour column combustion condensed consequently contained cool copper crystallisation cylinder density distance earth effect elastic electricity equal evaporation exist exposed fall feet fibres fire fluid force glass glottis greater hydrogen HYDROMETER inch inclined plane iron latent heat less lever light lime liquid magnetic mass matter melted mercury metal miles moisture motion move nitrogen oxygen particles pass piece piston plants pores portion pounds pressure produced quantity quicklime radiation rain rays rise rocks salt saltpetre snow solid sound space specific gravity steam substance sulphur sulphuric acid supposed surface temperature thermometer tube valve vapour vegetable velocity vessel vibrations warm weather weight wheel wind wood
Popular passages
Page 81 - The singing of most birds seems entirely a spontaneous effusion, produced by no exertion, or occasioning no lassitude in muscle, or relaxation of the parts of action. In certain seasons and weather, the nightingale sings all day, and most part of the night ; and we never observe that the powers of song are weaker, or that the notes become harsh and untunable, after all these hours of practice.
Page viii - it seems probable that God in the beginning formed matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, moveable particles, of such sizes, figures, and with such other properties, and in such proportion to space, as most conduced to the end for which he formed them, and that these primitive particles, being solids, are incomparably harder than any porous bodies compounded of them ; even so very hard as never to wear or break to pieces ; no ordinary power being able to divide what God himself made one in the...
Page 291 - It is a curious sight to see a piece of wood, or of beef, or an apple, or a bottle of water repelled by a magnet, or taking the leaf of a tree and hanging it up between the poles, to observe it take an equatorial position. Whether any similar effects occur in nature among the myriads of forms which...
Page 281 - ... the electricity which decomposes, and that which is evolved by the decomposition of, a certain quantity of matter, are alike.
Page 324 - Q. How is HEAT evolved by combustion ? A. By chemical action. As latent heat is liberated, when water is poured upon lime, by chemical action ; so latent heat is liberated in combustion, by chemical action also.
Page 7 - If a passenger leap from a carriage in rapid motion, he will fall in the direction in which the carriage is moving at the moment his feet meet the ground ; because his body, on quitting the vehicle, retains, by its inertia, the motion which it had in common with it. When he reaches the ground, this motion is destroyed by the resistance of the ground to the feet, but is retained in the upper and heavier part of the body ; so that the same effect is produced as if the feet had been tripped.
Page 30 - ... other side, and the spring has to begin its work again. The balance-wheel at each vibration allows one tooth of the adjoining wheel to pass, as the pendulum does in a clock ; and the record of the beats is preserved by the wheel which follows.
Page 84 - According to this law, any irregular surface must break an echo; and if the irregularity be very considerable, there can be no distinct or audible reflection at all.
Page 72 - The vibrations of the membrane of the drum are conveyed further inwards, through the cavity of the drum, by a chain of four bones (not here represented on account of their minuteness), reaching from the centre of the membrane to the oval door or window, leading into the labyrinth e.
Page 103 - No ; but we consider clothing warm or cool according as it impedes or facilitates the passage of heat to or from the surface of our bodies. The thick cloak which guards a Spaniard against the cold of winter is also in summer used by him as a protection against the direct rays of the sun...