An essay on the powers and mechanism of nature; : intended, by a deeper analysis of physical principles, to extend, improve, and more firmly establish, the grand superstructure of the Newtonian system. / By Robert Young.

  • Young, Robert
Date:
M DCC LXXXVIII. [1788]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the powers and mechanism of nature; : intended, by a deeper analysis of physical principles, to extend, improve, and more firmly establish, the grand superstructure of the Newtonian system. / By Robert Young. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    C 1‘0 ] two fimilar poles of a magnet recede from each other. The aftions on which thefe motions depend are called in general attraction and REPULSION; the particular attradion towards the earth is called gravity ; and of the fmall parts of bodies to each other, cohesion. t Thofe whereby bodies, whofe figures are changed, reftore themfelves to their former figures, termed elasticity. i jji We might dillinguifli other varieties of acti- vity, were it important to do fo; but all of them belong to one or the other of thefe, two heads; thofe where an experimental cause is manifeft, and thofe where no cause at all is difcovered by the fenfes. N And here it is proper to notice a prevailing er- ror, in making words ftand for names of causes of motion, which, in faCt, can only ferve to diftinguifli the SPECIES, there being no cause difcovered. The motion of the fmall parts bf bodies approach- ing each other to cohere; the motion of the iron to the magnet; the motion of bodies towards the earth, may, very well, be diftinguiflied from ^ each other, and from other motions. If we called them ail, in general, attraClivc motions; one, • attraftfon