The New Cabinet of Arts: A Series of Entertaining Experiments in Various Branches of Science, Numerous Valuable Recipes, and Useful Facts

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J.S. Pratt, 1846 - Scientific recreations - 252 pages
 

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Page 106 - As soon as any of the thunder-clouds come over the kite the pointed wire will draw the electric fire from them, and the kite, with all the twine, will be electrified, and the loose filaments of the twine will stand out every way and be attracted by an approaching finger. And when the rain has wet the kite and twine, so that it can conduct the electric fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle.
Page 106 - This kite is to be raised when a thunder gust appears to be coming on, and the person who holds the string must stand within a door or window, or under some cover, so that the silk ribbon may not be wet; and care must be taken that the twine does not touch the frame of the door or window. As soon as...
Page 106 - Make a small cross of two light strips of cedar, the arms so long as to reach to the four corners of a large thin silk handkerchief when extended; tie the corners of the handkerchief to the extremities of the cross, so you have the body of a kite; which being properly accommodated with a tail, loop, and string, will rise in the air, like those made of paper; but this being of silk is fitter to bear the wet and wind of a thunder-gust without tearing.
Page 89 - ... may fix the whole in a frame. While the mixture between the glasses is cold, the picture will be quite concealed, but become transparent when held to the fire ; and as the composition cools, it will gradually disappear. Artificial Lightning. PROVIDE a tin tube that is larger at one end than it is at . , the other, and in which there are several holes. Fill this tube with powdered resin ; and when it is shook over the ' flame of a torch, the reflection will produce the exact , appearance of lightning....
Page 107 - At this key the phial may be charged; and from electric fire thus obtained, spirits may be kindled, and all the other electric experiments be performed, which are usually done by the help of a rubbed glass globe or tube, and thereby the sameness of the electric matter with that of lightning completely demonstrated.
Page 32 - In the second method, some whitelead or chalk is ground up with strong size, and the letters are made with this by means of a brush ; when the mixture is almost dry, the gold leaf may be laid on, and afterwards burnished. The last method is to mix up some gold powder with size, and make the letters of this by means of a brush.
Page 125 - ... downwards ; and this is the barometer. — When the weather is fair, and inclined to be so, the water will be level with the section of the neck, or rather elevated above it, and forming a concave surface. When disposed to be wet, a drop will appear at the mouth, which will enlarge till it falls, and then another drop, while the humidity of the atmosphere continues.
Page 56 - ... already (enumerated, regulated the tune in the requisite manner for execution. The direction of the tongue furnished employment for the remaining lever, which it moved in order that it might be enabled to shut or open the mouth of the flute. The extremity of the axis of the cylinder was terminated on the right side by an endless screw, consisting of twelve threads, each of which was placed at the distance of a line and a half from the other. A piece of copper was fixed above this screw ; and...
Page 47 - In a few hours (I cannot now be exact as to the time) the black, being warmed most by the sun, was sunk so low as to be below the stroke of the sun's rays; the dark blue almost as low, the lighter blue not quite so much as the dark, the other colours less as they were lighter; and the quite white remained on the surface of the snow, not having entered it at all.
Page 33 - To make a Ring suspend by a Thread, after the Thread has been burned. SOAK a piece of thread in urine, or common salt and water. Tie it to a ring, not larger than a wedding ring. When you apply the flame of a candle to it, it will burn to ashes, but yet sustain the ring! To form Figures in relief on an Egg.

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