Mechanism of the HeavensJohn Murray, Albemarle-Street., 1831 - 621 pages |
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Page xx
... whole extent of the solar system , must be proportional to its elasti- city . Among the fortunate conjectures which have been con- firmed by subsequent experience , that of Bacon is not the least remarkable . It produces in me , ' says ...
... whole extent of the solar system , must be proportional to its elasti- city . Among the fortunate conjectures which have been con- firmed by subsequent experience , that of Bacon is not the least remarkable . It produces in me , ' says ...
Page xxiv
... whole dimensions of the solar sys- tem are known ; for the forces which retain the earth and moon in their orbits , are respectively proportional to the radii vec- tores of the earth and moon , each being divided by the square of its ...
... whole dimensions of the solar sys- tem are known ; for the forces which retain the earth and moon in their orbits , are respectively proportional to the radii vec- tores of the earth and moon , each being divided by the square of its ...
Page xxvi
... whole circum- ference of the globe is 24856 , and the diameter , which is something less than a third of the circumference , is 7916 or 8000 miles nearly . Eratosthenes , who died 194 years before the Christian era , was the first to ...
... whole circum- ference of the globe is 24856 , and the diameter , which is something less than a third of the circumference , is 7916 or 8000 miles nearly . Eratosthenes , who died 194 years before the Christian era , was the first to ...
Page xxviii
... whole , appears to be about ; that given by the lunar theory has the advantage of being independent of the irregularities at the earth's surface , and of local attractions . The form and size of the earth being determined , it furnishes ...
... whole , appears to be about ; that given by the lunar theory has the advantage of being independent of the irregularities at the earth's surface , and of local attractions . The form and size of the earth being determined , it furnishes ...
Page xxx
... whole solar system , when seen in the focus of the most powerful telescope , might be covered by the thickness of a spider's thread . Light , flying at the rate of 200000 miles in a second , would take three years and seven days to ...
... whole solar system , when seen in the focus of the most powerful telescope , might be covered by the thickness of a spider's thread . Light , flying at the rate of 200000 miles in a second , would take three years and seven days to ...
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Common terms and phrases
A₁ action angle ascending node attraction axes axis B₁ becomes c'mv centre of gravity centrifugal force co-ordinates coefficients comets computed conic sections consequently cosines curve density depending determined differential direction disturbing forces dR dR dt dt earth eccentricity ecliptic elements epoch equal equilibrium equinoxes expression fixed plane fluid functions give hence inclination indefinitely small integral Jupiter latitude mass mean anomaly mean distance mean longitude mean motion moon moon's move nearly observation omitted orbit of Jupiter oscillations parallax particle perigee perihelion periodic inequalities perturbations planets position preceding equation preceding values radius vector ratio regard rotation satellites Saturn secular inequalities secular variations sidereal sine spheroid square substituted surface system of bodies tangent terrestrial theory tion true longitude Uranus velocity whence zero
Popular passages
Page xv - That day, as other solemn days, they spent In song and dance about the sacred hill ; Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular Then most, when most irregular they seem ; And in their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Listens delighted.
Page xviii - ... that the mean longitude of the first satellite, minus three times that of the second, plus twice that of the third, is always equal to two right angles.
Page vii - His works, but trace, with precision, the operation of His laws, use the globe he inhabits as a base wherewith to measure the magnitude and distance of the sun and planets, and make the diameter of the earth's orbit the first step of a scale by which he may ascend to the starry firmament. Such pursuits, while they ennoble the mind, at the same time inculcate humility, by showing that there is a barrier which no energy, mental or physical, can ever enable us to pass: that, however profoundly we may...
Page xlix - An account of experiments for determining the length of the pendulum vibrating seconds in the latitude of London.
Page xiv - But, in the midst of all these vicissitudes, the length of the major axes and the mean motions of the planets remain permanently independent of secular changes. They are so connected by Kepler's law, of the squares of the periodic times being proportional to the cubes of the mean distances of the planets from the sun, that one cannot vary without affecting the other.
Page lxix - If the attraction of the sun for the огпtre of the earth, and of the hemisphere diametrically opposite to him, were diminished by a difficulty in penetrating the interposed matter, the tides would be more obviously affected. Its attraction is the same also, whatever the substances of the celestial bodies may be; for if the action of...
Page vi - 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.
Page xii - ... depends upon the velocity with which they were first propelled in space. Had that velocity been such as to make the planets move in orbits of unstable equilibrium, their mutual attractions might have changed them into parabolas, or even hyperbolas, so that the earth and planets might, ages ago, have been sweeping far from our sun through the abyss of space.
Page lxiv - Jupiter ; it then gradually diminished in splendor, and having exhibited all the variety of tints that indicate the changes of combustion, vanished sixteen months after its discovery, without altering its position. It is impossible to imagine anything more tremendous than a conflagration that could be visible at such a distance.