The constitution of matter : memoir on the probable constitution of matter, and laws of motion, as deducible from, and explanatory of, the physical phenomena of nature / by J.L. Riddell.

  • Riddell, John Leonard, 1807-1865.
Date:
[1846?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The constitution of matter : memoir on the probable constitution of matter, and laws of motion, as deducible from, and explanatory of, the physical phenomena of nature / by J.L. Riddell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    level of the sea, at 60°, entertains molecular momentum equivalent to 481° Fahr. of absolute heat. Hence the absolute zero of cold for such air is near —421° Fahr. Though I do not consider this result as rigid- ly true, yet it is certainly a sufficiently close approximation for our pre- sent purpose. It would consequently follow, from the preceding assump- tions, and from (1) and (2), that 2^_*^Z*f=8465° nearly=the mo- lecular momentum of air at the surface of the sun, expressed in degrees Fahr., and its temperature would be near (8465°—421 Q=8044'=; 8044° Fahr.; a far higher degree of heat than we have any instrumental means of measuring, and at which all known substances would doubtless exist in a condition of intense incandescence or luminosity, 118. The two assumptions admitted into these calculations may be varied widely within the bounds of probability, without essentially changing the result. 119. In like manner it might be rendered probable that the surface of the moon is intensely cold. For even admitting it has as dense an atmosphere as the eaith, while in truth it is questionable whether it has any, it would follow, as before shown in reference to the sun, that its surface temperature, due to necessary inherent warmth alone, would be probablvnear (481aX0.196 (3)—421°=—3^7° nearly)—327° Fahr. It is presumable, however, that the influence of the sun maintains the moon's surface at a somewhat higher temperature than this. 120. In respect to the luminosity of the sun, having demonstrated that an exceedingly high temperature necessarily pertains to that body, as a consequence of its enormous mass, it only remains to inquire into the probable condition of the electric or luminiferous medium, ~M<z>2, perva- ding its structure, and immediately surrounding its surface. It is first proper to determine, whether that medium probably possesses a^greater degree of density in and about the sun, than in and about the earth. That its atoms are more gross than those of the ponderefacient media, I have already rendered apparent. They must, therefore, tend to amass themselves around the heavenly bodies, in obedience to impulsive gravi- tation, and about the larger centres of gravitation this accumulation must be proportionately more considerable. Hence the sun would be imbued with, and surrounded by, a more dense medium of the lu- miniferous and electric matter than the earth. Still, from its proba- ble constitution, [m©*, it would be less under the influence of gravity than molecular matter, such as our atmosphere [jjfo , in the ratio of ^g- to 1; which taken in connection with the known velocity of its its impulses, 192.500 miles per second, enables us to comprehend how it can fill the immense measure of space occupied by the fixed stars. 121. Since, therefore, the luminiferous medium must be more dense at the surface of the sun, than at the surface of the earth ; it would ne- cessarily follow, that a proportionately greater amount of the momentum emanating from the sun, would travel off impulsively in that medium. This circumstance taken in connexion with the very elevated tempera- ture that, I have shown, must pertain to the sun; or with the fact, that though an equal space on the surface, 26.4 times more momentum must in the same time escape from the sun than from the earth, clearly ena-