On the Connexion of the Physical Sciencesanboco, 2016 M09 27 - 1330 pages Science, regarded as the pursuit of truth, must ever afford occupation of consummate interest, and subject of elevated meditation. The contemplation of the works of creation elevates the mind to the admiration of whatever is great and noble; accomplishing the object of all study, which, in the eloquent language of Sir James Mackintosh, "is to inspire the love of truth, of wisdom, of beauty—especially of goodness, the highest beauty—and of that supreme and eternal Mind, which contains all truth and wisdom, all beauty and goodness. By the love or delightful contemplation and pursuit of these transcendent aims, for their own sake only, the mind of man is raised from low and perishable objects, and prepared for those high destinies which are appointed for all those who are capable of them." Astronomy affords the most extensive example of the connection of the physical sciences. In it are combined the sciences of number and quantity, of rest and motion. In it we perceive the operation of a force which is mixed up with everything that exists in the heavens or on earth; which pervades every atom, rules the motions of animate and inanimate beings, and is as sensible in the descent of a rain-drop as in the falls of Niagara; in the weight of the air, as in the periods of the moon. Gravitation not only binds satellites to their planet, and planets to the sun, but it connects sun with sun throughout the wide extent of creation, and is the cause of the disturbances, as well as of the order of nature; since every tremor it excites in any one planet 2is immediately transmitted to the farthest limits of the system, in oscillations which correspond in their periods with the cause producing them, like sympathetic notes in music, or vibrations from the deep tones of an organ. The heavens afford the most sublime subject of study which can be derived from science. |
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... angles to the plane of the orbit, occasions the periodic inequalities in the planet's latitude, and affects the position of the orbit with regard to the plane of the ecliptic. It has been observed, that the radius vector of a planet ...
... angles to the plane of the orbit, occasions the periodic inequalities in the planet's latitude, and affects the position of the orbit with regard to the plane of the ecliptic. It has been observed, that the radius vector of a planet ...
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... angle [2] of 23° 27ʹ 28ʺ·29, will never coincide with the plane of the ecliptic: so there never can be perpetual spring (N. 79). The rotation of the earth is uniform; therefore day and night, summer and winter, will continue their ...
... angle [2] of 23° 27ʹ 28ʺ·29, will never coincide with the plane of the ecliptic: so there never can be perpetual spring (N. 79). The rotation of the earth is uniform; therefore day and night, summer and winter, will continue their ...
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... angle of nearly 1° 34ʹ 15ʺ, and that, in passing through the sun, and about midway between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, it may be regarded as the equator of the solar system, dividing it into two parts, which balance one another in ...
... angle of nearly 1° 34ʹ 15ʺ, and that, in passing through the sun, and about midway between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, it may be regarded as the equator of the solar system, dividing it into two parts, which balance one another in ...
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... angle of 3° 5ʹ 30ʺ, so that the action of the sun and of the satellites themselves produces a nutation and ... angles. It is proved by theory, that, if these relations had only been approximate when the satellites were first launched ...
... angle of 3° 5ʹ 30ʺ, so that the action of the sun and of the satellites themselves produces a nutation and ... angles. It is proved by theory, that, if these relations had only been approximate when the satellites were first launched ...
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... velocity, these rays would strike against the side of the tube; it would, therefore, be necessary to incline the telescope a little, in order to see the star. The angle contained between the axis of the telescope and a line.
... velocity, these rays would strike against the side of the tube; it would, therefore, be necessary to incline the telescope a little, in order to see the star. The angle contained between the axis of the telescope and a line.
Contents
SECTION XX | |
SECTION XXI | |
SECTION XXII | |
SECTION XXIII | |
SECTION XXIV | |
SECTION XXV | |
SECTION XXVI | |
SECTION XXVII | |
SECTION IX | |
SECTION X | |
SECTION XI | |
SECTION XII | |
SECTION XIII | |
SECTION XIV | |
SECTION XV | |
SECTION XVI | |
SECTION XVII | |
SECTION XVIII | |
SECTION XIX | |
SECTION XXVIII | |
SECTION XXIX | |
SECTION XXX | |
SECTION XXXI | |
SECTION XXXII | |
SECTION XXXIII | |
SECTION XXXIV | |
SECTION XXXV | |
SECTION XXXVI | |
SECTION XXXVII | |
NOTES | |
INDEX | |
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Common terms and phrases
absorbed action appears atmosphere attraction bodies cause centre centrifugal force chemical circular polarization colour comet compression consequently crystals dark David Brewster decrease degree density diamagnetic diameter diminishes direction disturbing earth ecliptic effect electricity equal equator ethereal medium excentricity experiments extremely Fahrenheit force glass globe gravitation greater heat hemisphere increase inequalities intensity Jupiter Jupiter’s latitude length less light lines liquid longitude luminous lunar magnetic mass meridian miles molecules moon moon’s nearly nodal lines nodes nutation observed ocean optic axis orbit oscillations parallax paramagnetic particles passing perigee perihelion periodic perpendicular phenomena planets plate polarized poles position produced proportion quantity rays reflected refraction refrangible retrograde motion revolution revolving right angles rings rotation satellites Saturn Sir John Herschel solar spectrum sound southern hemisphere space stars substances sun’s surface temperature terrestrial tourmaline transmitted undulations Uranus vapour variations velocity vibrations waves wire