Elements of natural philosophy (Volume 2-3) . e sensation the internal state of the bodies with which we are m sen- determined. sible contact. It becomes important, therefore, to look somewhat into the constitution of natural bodies, and especially to inquire into the structure of the atmosphere, the main vehicle of sound to the beings which inhabit it, Vehicio of sound; and of that vastly more subtile and refined medium, called ether, through which we derive our sensations of heat, light, and electricity, 0f usbt« &c- § 3. We have already referred, in the introduction tothe first volume, to B
Elements of natural philosophy (Volume 2-3) . e sensation the internal state of the bodies with which we are m sen- determined. sible contact. It becomes important, therefore, to look somewhat into the constitution of natural bodies, and especially to inquire into the structure of the atmosphere, the main vehicle of sound to the beings which inhabit it, Vehicio of sound; and of that vastly more subtile and refined medium, called ether, through which we derive our sensations of heat, light, and electricity, 0f usbt« &c- § 3. We have already referred, in the introduction tothe first volume, to Boscovichs views upon this subject,and shall now give some illustration of the mode in which, 10 NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. Exponentialcurve; according to that distinguished philosopher, all bodies areformed. For this purpose let us resume the exponential curve asexhibited in the annexed figure, and which Boscovich sup- Fig, l. Attractiveordinates;Repulsiveordinates; Xeutral points; Temporarymolecule; Permanentmolecule; When permanence J) 71 poses to represent the law and intensity of the action ofone atom of a body upon another. We have seen that theordinates of those portions of the curve which lie abovethe line A C, denote the attractive, while the ordinates ofthe portions below, represent the repulsive energies of anatom A for another atom situated anywhere upon thisline. That at the points C\ D\ C\ D, in which the curveintersects the line A C, the reciprocal action of the atomsreduces to nothing, and the atoms become neutral. Alsothat an atom situated at D\ D or 2?/ and the atom Aconstitute a temporary molecule, while the molecule formedof the atoms A and (7, A and C\ or A and <7, has a cer-tain degree of permanence, resisting compression and dila-tation, and tending to regain its original bulk when thedistending or compressing cause is withdrawn. But thispermanence only obtains when the disturbing force is suchas to change the interval between the atoms by a distanc
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