The Earth: Its Physical Condition and Most Remarkable PhenomenaHarper & Brothers, 1836 - 408 pages |
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Page 12
... sufficient to compensate for the inaccuracy with which those organs may convey an impression of external appearances . But it may be still asked , what advantages are to be de- rived from the study of the physical sciences ? and are ...
... sufficient to compensate for the inaccuracy with which those organs may convey an impression of external appearances . But it may be still asked , what advantages are to be de- rived from the study of the physical sciences ? and are ...
Page 15
... sufficient of themselves to allure to the study . To satisfy the love of knowledge , a principle deeply implanted in the human mind , is in all cases a reward for toil , though the pleasure we derive from our pursuits is inti- mately ...
... sufficient of themselves to allure to the study . To satisfy the love of knowledge , a principle deeply implanted in the human mind , is in all cases a reward for toil , though the pleasure we derive from our pursuits is inti- mately ...
Page 19
... sufficient to counteract the impediments to motion resulting from natural causes , yet it is infinitely the most efficacious and controllable . When rain falls upon the surface of the earth , it remains a short time , and disappears ...
... sufficient to counteract the impediments to motion resulting from natural causes , yet it is infinitely the most efficacious and controllable . When rain falls upon the surface of the earth , it remains a short time , and disappears ...
Page 20
... sufficient to determine their origin , and much less to ascer- tain the nature and activity of those causes by which matter universally governed . The human mind has never arrived any important discovery , but by slow and progressive ...
... sufficient to determine their origin , and much less to ascer- tain the nature and activity of those causes by which matter universally governed . The human mind has never arrived any important discovery , but by slow and progressive ...
Page 24
... sufficient daring to disregard the sentiments of others , and to appeal to posterity rather than its contemporaries . But it must not be forgotten , that erroneous theoretical prin- ciples prevent the practical results which may always ...
... sufficient daring to disregard the sentiments of others , and to appeal to posterity rather than its contemporaries . But it must not be forgotten , that erroneous theoretical prin- ciples prevent the practical results which may always ...
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Common terms and phrases
activity agent animals appearance atmospheric air attraction beds bodies carbonic acid causes centrifugal force character chymical circumstances clouds coal coal measures colour consequently containing crater crust decrease deduced density determine direction distance district earth earthquakes effects ejected elastic electricity elevation equal equator eruption evaporation evidence existence experiments fact fall feet fluid force formed frequently geologists heat height hemisphere hyænas igneous inches increase influence instance intensity intumescent lakes latitude lava less light liquid magnetic mass mean temperature mercury metal miles mineral moon motion mountain nature northern hemisphere observed ocean opinion oxygen particles period phenomena phenomenon philosophers plesiosaurus poles position present pressure principle produced proportion proved quantity rain rays refraction remarkable result rivers rocks sensible heat solar sometimes south pole strata stratified stratum substances supposed surface temperature theory tion tricity Vale of Siddim valley vapour vegetable violent volcanic
Popular passages
Page 125 - Or hear'st thou rather pure ethereal stream, Whose fountain who shall tell ? before the sun, Before the heavens thou wert, and at the voice Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest The rising world of waters dark and deep, Won from the void and formless infinite.
Page 83 - It seems possible to account for all the phenomena of heat, if it be supposed that in solids the particles are in a constant state of vibratory motion, the particles of the hottest bodies moving with the greatest velocity, and through the greatest space; that in fluids and elastic fluids, besides the vibratory motion, which must be conceived greatest in the last, the particles have a motion round their own axes, with different velocities...
Page 99 - Sometime, we see a cloud that's dragonish, A vapour, sometime, like a bear, or lion, A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon't, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper's pageants.
Page 83 - ... lower temperature — that is, can give an expansive motion to its particles — it is a probable inference that its own particles are possessed of motion ; but as there is no change in the position of its parts, as long as its...
Page 83 - The immediate cause of the phenomenon of heat, then, is motion ; and the laws of its communication are precisely the same as the laws of the communication of motion.
Page 123 - Brightens his crest. As when a wandering fire, Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night Condenses, and the cold environs round, Kindled through agitation to a flame, Which oft, they say, some evil spirit attends, Hovering and blazing with delusive light, Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool ; There swallowed up and lost, from succour far...
Page 99 - That which is now a horse, even with a thought The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct, As water is in water.
Page 343 - THE HISTORICAL WORKS of the Rev. WILLIAM ROBERTSON, DD ; comprising his HISTORY OF AMERICA; CHARLES V.; SCOTLAND; and INDIA. In 3 vols. 8vo. With plates.
Page 41 - Venus a pea, on a circle of 284 feet in diameter ; the Earth also a pea, on a circle of 430 feet ; Mars a rather large pin's head, on a circle of 654 feet ; the Asteroids, grains of sand, in orbits of from 1000 to 1200 feet; Jupiter a moderate-sized orange, in a circle nearly half a mile across...
Page 83 - Temperature may be conceived to depend upon the velocities of the vibrations; increase of capacity on the motion being performed in greater space ; and the diminution of temperature during the conversion of solids into fluids or gases, may be explained on the idea of the loss of vibratory motion, in consequence of the revolution of particles round their axes, at the moment when the body becomes fluid or aeriform, or from the loss of rapidity of vibration in consequence of the motion of the particles...