Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-14
TO THE EDITOR OF rHe ENQUIRER.

SIR-In reference 10 the " curiceIs problem
proposed III Your paper of the 9Th inst and the
communications occasioned by il in your last
II appears to me, (thengh I canuOt pretend IN
more than very superficial acquaintance with
mcchanicai SCIENCE that both YOUR coTrespon
dents have overlooked circumstance very ne.
ceSsary to be considered in all Questiops con.
nec'ed WIN tue laws Of moving bodies that
Is, the resistance
suppose in the first place a steam boat pro.
PeIied through water IN which there is no eur
rent anu through an atmosphere in which The re
IS no wInu The power has to overcome two
Iolu resistance; first from the wafer second
frow the air. If we suppose Tie resistance ON.
posed by the air, TO be 10 that opposed NV the
water as TO II, the degree of poweriD the ma.
VhlnerS VIII he Indicated by the number H. If
~ the second place we suppose the air remov
ed and the boat Co be propelled thro' a vacuum.
Win the same power of machinery. il is clear
thdt the resistance will be diminished i'm The
proportion of 10 ~ hui diminution OF the
'eS'''aDce III this proportion is obviously eani.
Naieht 10 an increase of the power i'm the same
proportion; and the effect upon the moying DO
uy WIZ he the same as if ii were propelIed i'm
,he Hfst instance by power equal 10 IS-it is
luI lner obvious, that II there is a current of
air moving in the same direction and with the
same velocity the moving BODY. the effect
VIII DC Ia remove the resistance occasiOued nv
'he ar 10 the tiIst supposition and 10 produce
a. 10 the boat the same effect as the vacuum in
the second supposiiiOn.
The main question. however. has yot tn he
answered: VIII this increase of mower occasion
an increase Of velocity2
40 not-hesiiate TO say, upon tho above prin-
ciPlCS, mo IN opposition TO both your cores
Pohdenis, That ia tie case stated in the pro-
Diem, steam boat if placed i'm broad water
ahd us machinery of the ordinary constituent
on, VIII acquire an increase Of velocity when
moving at the rate OF FIVE miles an hour If ln-
foGuced into column of air moving i'm the
same direction with the same velocity: YOU
oDaeiVe mean the same velocity simply. aud
hOt such a velocity as with the assistance
or sails would prOpeI the boat five miles an
hOurLIor ~ tie production Of that increase Of
velocity Of whiChI now speak. sails arc use
icsS--Bnt an increase Of power will uOt in an
circumstances produce an increase Of velocity
n moving bodies. There is a point for exam
PIE beyond which no increase OF charge ysi 90
caSionIncfease eilberin the range or velocity OF
dcOWmOn bail: 10 has been found scarcelV ms
s,bic 10 drag boats faster than al tc rate ofi,out
tour miles an nOur in narrow waters such as
canals-and think have heard that one of
TIE steam boats which ply between this CITY
and Norfolk, was found not 20 suffer any di.
intuition Of velocity, altho' the power was di.
minrhed 10 less Than bali; Of course in the
inverse q! the circumstances il would have eX.
peuencei no increase of velocity, altho' the
power bad been doubled. These are matters
% tact and eXpertence--au ingenious atternDt
20 account tor tie first has been made by
philosopher who ranks deservedly high among
me philosophers Of the present age, so fertile
~ the production Of great men; but as it is
tue matter Of fact only that we have to do with
80 the present investigation. aud as YOU recon-
mend bregity shall not trespass farther ON
your own and yVur readers patience by enter.
ing INTO detail II tscxpltuatlOn
, ! ne following then is = brief answer to the
Provideithe power be within certain point,