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INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS.
Page 1
SECTION I.
Attraction of a Sphere - Form of Celestial Bodies - Terrestrial Gravi-
tation retains the Moon in her Orbit - The Heavenly Bodies move in
Conic Sections Gravitation Proportional to Mass Gravitation of
the Particles of Matter Figure of the Planets How it affects the
Motions of their Satellites - Rotation and Translation impressed by the
same Impulse Motion of the Sun and Solar System
SECTION II.
-
· Celestial Latitude
Ecliptic -
Nodes
4
Elliptical Motion - Mean and True Motion - Equinoctial
Equinoxes Mean and True Longitude Equation of Centre-In-
clination of the Orbits of Planets
Elements of an Orbit - Undisturbed or Elliptical Orbits Great In-
clination of the Orbits of the New Planets - Universal Gravitation the
Cause of Perturbations in the Motions of the Heavenly Bodies - Problem
of the Three Bodies - Stability of Solar System depends upon the Pri-
mitive Momentum of the Bodies
8
SECTION III.
Perturbations, Periodic and Secular- Disturbing Action equivalent to
three Partial Forces - Tangential Force the cause of the Periodic In-
equalities in Longitude, and Secular Inequalities in the Form and Position
of the Orbit in its own Plane Radial Force the cause of Variations in
the Planet's Distance from the Sun - It combines with the Tangential
Force to produce the Secular Variations in the Form and Position of the
Orbit in its own Plane - Perpendicular Force the cause of Periodic
Perturbations in Latitude, and Secular Variations in the Position of the
Orbit with regard to the Plane of the Ecliptic Mean Motion and
Major Axis Invariable Stability of System Effects of a Resisting.
Medium - Invariable Plane of the Solar System and of the Universe
Great Inequality of Jupiter and Saturn
SECTION IV.
--
Theory of Jupiter's Satellites Effects of the Figure of Jupiter upon his
Satellites - Position of their Orbits - Singular Laws among the Motions
of the first Three Satellites - Eclipses of the Satellites. - Velocity of
Light Aberration Ethereal Medium Satellites of Saturn and
Uranus
SECTION V.
Page 27
Lunar Theory - Periodic Perturbations of the Moon - Equation of Centre
· Evection Variation - Annual Equation - Direct and Indirect
Action of Planets - The Moon's Action on the Earth disturbs her own
Motion - Excentricity and Inclination of Lunar Orbit invariable
Acceleration Secular Variation in Nodes and Perigee - Motion of
Nodes and Perigee inseparably connected with the Acceleration
Nutation of Lunar Orbit Form and Internal Structure of the Earth
determined from it Lunar, Solar, and Planetary Eclipses- - Occulta-
- Mean Distance of the Sun from the Earth
Absolute Distances of the Planets, how
1
tions and Lunar Distances
obtained from Lunar Theory
found
34
SECTION VI.
Form of the Earth and Planets Figure of a Homogeneous Spheroid in
Rotation - Figure of a Spheroid of variable Density Figure of the
Earth, supposing it to be an Ellipsoid of Revolution · Mensuration of a
Degree of the Meridian Compression and Size of the Earth from
Degrees of Meridian Figure of Earth from the Pendulum ..
SECTION VII.
44
Parallax-Lunar Parallax found from Direct Observation Solar Parallax
deduced from the Transit of Venus Distance of the Sun from the
Earth Annual Parallax- Distance of the Fixed Stars
SECTION VIII.
52
Masses of Planets that have no Satellites determined from their Perturba-
tions Masses of the others obtained from the Motions of their Satel-
lites - Masses of the Sun, the Earth, of Jupiter and of the Jovial
System Mass of the Moon - Real Diameters of Planets, how obtained
Size of Sun, Densities of the Heavenly Bodies - Formation of Astro-
nomical Tables Requisite Data and Means of obtaining them
tion of the Moon and other Satellites equal to the Periods of their Revo-
lutions Form of Lunar Spheroid — Libration, Aspect, and Constitution
of the Moon
Rotation of Jupiter's Satellites
65
SECTION X.
Rotation of the Earth invariable · Decrease in the Earth's mean Tempera-
ture - Earth originally in a state of Fusion -- Length of Day constant
- Decrease of Temperature ascribed by Sir John Herschel to the varia-
tion in the Excentricity of the Terrestrial Orbit — Difference in the
Temperature of the two Hemispheres erroneously ascribed to the Excess
in the Length of Spring and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere; attri-
buted by Sir Charles Lyell to the Operation of existing Causes - Three
principal Axes of Rotation - Position of the Axis of Rotation on the
Surface of the Earth invariable- Ocean not sufficient to restore the
Equilibrium of the Earth if deranged Its Density and mean Depth
- Internal Structure of the Earth
Page 71
Mean and Apparent Sidereal Time - Mean and Apparent Solar Time ·
Equation of Time
English and French Subdivisions of Time-Leap
Year Christian Era- Equinoctial Time -Remarkable Eras de-
pending upon the Position of the Solar Perigee Inequality of the
Lengths of the Seasons in the two Hemispheres - Application of Astro-
nomy to Chronology — English and French Standards of Weights and
Measures..
83
SECTION XIII.
Tides-Forces that produce them—Origin and Course of Tidal Wave-
Its Speed-Three kinds of Oscillations in the Ocean -The Semidiurnal
Tides Equinoctial Tides - Effects of the Declination of the Sun and
Moon Theory insufficient without Observation Direction of the
Tidal Wave Height of Tides - Mass of Moon obtained from her
Action on the Tides — Interference of Undulations - Impossibility of a
Universal Inundation Currents
91
SECTION XIV.
tices
Molecular Forces - Permanency of the ultimate Particles of Matter
Interstices Mossotti's Theory - Rankin's Theory of Molecular Vor-
Gases reduced to Liquids by Pressure - Gravitation of Particles
Cohesion Crystallization - Cleavage- Isomorphism - Minuteness
of the Particles-Height of Atmosphere Chemical Affinity- Definite
Proportions and Relative Weights of Atoms Faraday's Discovery with
regard to Affinity - Capillary Attraction
102
SECTION XV.
Analysis of the Atmosphere - Its pressure-Law of Decrease in Density
-Law of Decrease in Temperature Measurement of Heights by the
Barometer - Extent of the Atmosphere - Barometrical Variations
Oscillations - Trade-Winds Cloud-Ring- Monsoons
Rotation of
Page 117
SECTION XVI.
Sound-Propagation of Sound illustrated by a Field of Standing Corn
Nature of Waves - Propagation of Sound through the Atmosphere
Intensity Noises - A Musical Sound - Quality - Pitch - Extent of
Human Hearing - Velocity of Sound in Air, Water, and Solids -
Law of its Intensity- Reflection
- Refraction of Sound-Interference
Causes of the Obstruction of Sound
of Sound - Echoes Thunder
of Sounds
129
SECTION XVII.
Vibration of Musical Strings - Harmonic Sounds - Nodes - Vibration of
Air in Wind-Instruments - Vibration of Solids-Vibrating Plates
Bells Harmony - Sounding Boards - Forced Vibrations - Resonance
-Speaking Machines
140
SECTION XVIII.
Refraction
of Refraction-Terrestrial Refraction
Extraordinary Refraction
---
Astronomical Refraction and its Laws - Formation of Tables
Its Quantity Instances of
- Reflection - Instances of Extraordinary Re-
flection - Loss of Light by the Absorbing Power of the Atmosphere —
Apparent Magnitude of Sun and Moon in the Horizon
SECTION XIX.
Constitution of Light according to Sir Isaac Newton
153
Absorption of Light
- Colours of Bodies - Constitution of Light according to Sir David
Brewster New Colours - Fraunhofer's Dark Lines - Dispersion of
Light-The Achromatic Telescope - Homogeneous Light — Accidental
and Complementary Colours - M. Plateau's Experiments and Theory
of Accidental Colours
159
SECTION XX.
Interference of Light-Undulatory Theory of Light Propagation of
Light-Newton's Rings - Measurement of the Length of the Waves of
Light, and of the Frequency of the Vibrations of Ether for each Colour
Newton's Scale of Colours - Diffraction of Light -- Sir John Her-
schel's Theory of the Absorption of Light - Refraction and Reflection of
Light
167
Polarization of Light
SECTION XXI.
Defined-Polarization by Refraction - Properties
of the Tourmaline-Double Refraction- All doubly Refracted Light is
Polarized - Properties of Iceland Spar - Tourmaline absorbs one of the
two Refracted Rays- Undulations of Natural Light-Undulations of
Polarized Light-The Optic Axes of Crystals-M. Fresnel's Disco-
veries on the Rays passing along the Optic Axis Polarization by
Reflection
Page 179
SECTION XXII.
Phenomena exhibited by the Passage of Polarized Light through Mica and
Sulphate of Lime -The Coloured Images produced by Polarized Light
passing through Crystals having one and two Optic Axes - Circular
Polarization- Elliptical Polarization-Discoveries of MM. Biot, Fresnel,
and Professor Airy Coloured Images produced by the Interference of
Polarized Rays - Fluorescence
SECTION XXIII.
186
Objections to the Undulatory Theory, from a difference in the Action of
Sound and Light under the same circumstances, removed — The Disper-
sion of Light according to the Undulatory Theory - Arago's final proof
that the Undulatory Theory is the Law of Nature
SECTION XXIV.
199
Chemical or Photographic Rays of Solar Spectrum-Scheele, Ritter, and
Wollaston's Discoveries- Wedgwood's and Sir Humphry Davy's Photo-
graphic Pictures
- The Calotype The Daguerreotype - The Chroma-
type- The Cyanotype- Collodion-Sir John Herschel's Discoveries in
the Chemical Spectrum - M. Becquerel's Discoveries of Inactive Lines
in ditto Thermic Spectrum Phosphoric Spectrum — Electrical Pro-
perties Parathermic Rays - Moser and Hunt's Experiments Gene-
ral Structure and antagonist Properties of Solar Spectrum - Defracted
Spectrum
203
SECTION XXV.
Size and Constitution of the Sun- The Solar Spots - Intensity of the
Sun's
's Light and Heat - The Sun's Atmosphere — His influence on the
Planets Atmospheres of the Planets-The Moon has none - Lunar
heat The Differential Telescope-Temperature of Space Internal
Heat of the Earth -Zone of constant Temperature -Increase of Heat
with the Depth - Central Heat - Volcanic Action · Quantity of Heat
received from the Sun-Isogeothermal Lines - Line of Perpetual Con-
gelation - Climate- Isothermal Lines Same quantity of Heat an-
nually received and radiated by the Earth
224