The Science of Common Things: A Familiar Explanation of the First Principles of Physical Science : for Schools, Families, and Young Students |
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Common terms and phrases
absorb heat action animal appear ascends atmosphere attraction avoirdupois bad conductor become body boiling bottom burning burning-glass called candle carbonic acid cause centre of gravity centrifugal force chimney clouds coal cold air colder color column combustion condensed conductor of heat consequence contained cool cornea crystalline lens distance earth effect electricity expand fall feet fire flame float fluid force freezing frozen galvanic glass glottis greater hydrogen inches increase invisible iron latent heat lighter liquid lungs magnet matter melt mercury metal miles moisture motion object oxygen particles pass piece poles portion pressure produce quantity quicklime radiate heat rain rays of light reflected refracted retina rise salt snow solid sound steam substances sulphuric acid surface temperature thermometer tion trees tricity tube vapor vegetable velocity vessel vibrations warm warmer weather weight wind wood
Popular passages
Page 102 - On removing the finger, he observed that the mercury in the tube fell, but did not fall altogether into the cistern; it only subsided until its surface was at a height of about 30 inches above the surface of the mercury in the cistern. The result was what Torricelli expected, and he soon FIG.
Page 33 - horse's power" adopted as a standard for estimating the power of steam-engines, is that he can raise a weight of 33,000 pounds to the height of one foot in a minute.
Page 156 - If a fire be very fierce, the air and vapor are expelled so rapidly, that the bubbles are very numerous ; and (towering one above another) reach the top of the kettle, and fall...
Page 20 - Force of gravity is a term used to denote the attraction between the earth and bodies upon or near its surface. It always acts in a straight line between the center of the body and the center of the earth. The force of gravity varies at points on the earth's surface. It is slightly less on the top of a high mountain than at the level of the sea. For this reason the weight of a body also varies. But if the weight of a body at any place be divided by the force of gravity at that place, the result is...
Page 126 - That an echo may be perfect, the surface producing it must be smooth, and of some regular form ; for the wave of sound rebounds according to the same law as a wave of water, or a ray of light, or an elastic ball...
Page 87 - He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering.
Page 263 - Because the distance between the front and back of the eye is so great that the image of distant objects is formed in front of the retina ; but when objects are brought near to the eye, their image is thrown farther back, and made to fall on the retina.
Page 104 - In a thermometer the mercury is sealed up from the air / and rises or falls as the varying temperature of the air expands or contracts it ; but in a barometer the mercury is left exposed (or open) to the air / and rises or falls as the varying weight of the air presses upon the open column.
Page 51 - The only difficulty, indeed, is to explain why the water does not ooze out everywhere along the line of junction of the two formations, so as to form one continuous land-soak, instead of a few springs only, and these oftentimes far distant from f,ach other.
Page 39 - Roman cements, are those which have the property of hardening under water, and of consolidating almost immediately on being mixed. Common mortar, although it stands the effect of water very well when perfectly dry, yet occupies a considerable time in becoming so, and dissolves or crumbles away, if laid under water, before it has had time to harden. It is found that certain rocks which possess an argillaceous as well as silicious...