Humboldt Library of Science Volume 106

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...moving body for ever, and that where there is little friction the moving body continues to proceed for a long period in the same direction without conspicuous loss of speed--we see that each new increment of energy from the burning coal is used up--not in intensifying the rate of motion, but in overcoming friction, in wearing down the projecting particles of the machinery and the rails, in producing heat, and so, ultimately, in setting up separative actions. This case leads us on to that of a planet having orbital Energy, or a molecule having Vibratory Motion. In both these instances the substance to which the Energy is imparted is far subtler and more tenuous, being in fact the ethereal medium. Yet in both we see that as their Energy is lost, they aggregate with attractive bodies, and we thus perceive the separative nature of their motion. At the same time we see it as a mere incident in the transference of separation from matter to ether. Lastly, in the case of aggregative movements, we see that the Motion replaces for a time the separation of masses, molecules, atoms, or electrical units, as they rush together; but we also see the same separation afterwards transmitted to some other form of matter or to the ether, as heat, light, electrical separation, or some other form of separative Energy. Again, in every case, the ether is the final gainer of Energy, and every Motion is only an incident which ultimately effects the transfer of Energy (i.e. separation) from matter to ether. On the surface of our earth, where so large an amount of Energy is being daily poured down by the sun, this truth is masked by the fact that new Energy continually replaces the old. But if we leave out of consideration the accretions thus made to our store of Energy, we see shall t...