Popular scientific lectures / by Ernst Mach ; translated by Thomas J. McCormack.

  • Ernst Mach
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Popular scientific lectures / by Ernst Mach ; translated by Thomas J. McCormack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    would construct no other figure than that which is here formed on the wire frame in our solution of soap and water. Nature acts in the construction of liquid figures on the principle of a covetous tailor, and gives no thought in her work to the fashions. But, strange to say, in this work, the most beautiful fashions are of themselves produced. The two paragraphs which state our law apply pri- marily only to soap-film figures, and are not applicable, of course, to solid oil-figures. But the principle that the superficial area of the liquid shall be the least possible under the circumstances, is applicable to all fluid figures. He who understands not only the letter but also the reason of the law will not be at a loss when confronted with cases to which the letter does not accurately appl)'. And this is the case with the principle of least superficial area. It is a sure guide for us even in cases in which the above-stated para- graphs are not applicable. Our first task will now be, to show by a palpable illustration the mode of formation of liquid figures by the principle of least superficial area. The oil on the wire pyramid in our mixture of alcohol and water, be- ing unable to leave the wire edges, clings to them, and the given mass of oil strives so to shape itself that its surface shall have the least possible area. Suppose we attempt to imitate this phenomenon. We take a wire pyramid, draw over it a stout film of rubber, and in place of the wire handle insert a small tube leading
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