Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-03-14
Supposed Discoveries in Grav-
-ss itatiop. 4ta

correspondent rthe Chelteahamf Eng J
Journal, IN a scientific communication, states
that his attention has been directed TO two
iacts in connection with comparatively re-
cent discoveries, that appear 10 be subver-
sve Of the Newionian doctrine Of graviia-
,iou and remarks. in relation to certain points
which Franklin, had already treat
ed. as follows:
From the first of these facts, it may he de-
ducet llMt matter is not Invariably attract
ell towards The centre of the earth i; il being
oHly At tl,eSrules and at the equator, thai
Sthe direction of a iaillng body IS precisely
towards the centre of The, earth for III our
4 latitude it must he towards n point 'remoy- :
I'd from the centre. AT all times, however,
The line of descent is at right angles with
the orizon-a fac, seIfestablishcd Nv ,,ss,sis.
ematEcal data, and about which nu doubt can
@ Iaised.
At tie pses ana at tie equator, The bor-
iIizon is al right angles with Il line drawn 10
I ,l,e centre osthe earth; aud, therefore. fall
Z ing budy must, We assume. be necessarily
under the direct influence ol the opposite
elrctrcal coalition ci tile centre of the earth
and upper regions which is reconciis,i,le
10 our s'sisef tiiar tAe ~ ssrmssi ariviiation
is the effect OF The negaiiye condition or The
centre OF the earth.sa and the pusi,ise ely cleo
irical condition oil tie eprer regions. But.
in The latitude Of 45 deg, a line drawn from
the surface to the centre of the earth. is not
al rigi,, angles with the horizon; whence
it must follow thai, although the failing body
rwdi be attracted by the negative coudition
of the earfh's centre apparently towards that
point, i,s descent being also Influenced By
the highly electrical condition Of the upper
~. II
at right angles 20 the horrizon) 1t must tend
10 divert the falling body fromlhe accurately
direct line Of attraction towards the centre
of the eal,h.
II, then, attraction Of gravialion he refer
able TO TWO equal forces, acting in the same
direction, BY parity of reasoning, in our lat
titude. where the atmospheric influence d-
,verts The influence of the terrestrial line. the
electrical influence OF The earth should also
divert the line Of The horizon from liz per-
pendcular. And hence we suspect that. if
the dirta of the mathematician he sustained,
il is clear that what we baye been regar'.in I.
as, 'aftractien' mus. he 'repusion' ell
ectrical condition OF the upper regions alone
acting iii the mattel HE earth being neutral ;
TO which latter proposition we ale perfectly
prepared 10 accede.
VIC usibC SiVNu ilb>C uiHtSi.NCS
which we attributed 70 heat are referable
to cold II is not. therefore. imprnhahte,
that in Ignorance Of electrical condition.
outward appearances in this question may
have misled the astronomer.
The secand iaci is, that attraction Of gray
itation, is grea,er n; The poles of the earth,
than II is al the equator, rs determined by
the vibration of The pendulum. Our globe
is not perfectly spheroidical body. but
what is termed an 'obIale spherod,' Of which
the equatorial diameter exceeds the polar by
130.206 feet, or % geographical miles-a
difference equal To more than nine times the
height, of Mount Blanc. or five times the
height OF the Himayla chain.
We are not, however. without illustrative
aid. prepared to give so satisfactory solu-
ton of the second rs of the 6rst fact. al
though, from there being less attraction
where exists the greatest amount OF matter.
! il may be consistently received as proof
equally ssuhversive OF the Newtonian doc
trine. But if il be allowed ,hat at the
equator there is a greater thickness in
tie crust Of the carh, and that, conse-
uuentlY, the attracted body has inerposetl
I greater mass of non-conducting matter
! between il aud The negative centre os at
| traction. the problem Is a, leasi partly solv~
ed irrespective of the distance. The excess
of temperature. also. a, the equator, us com
pared with that Of ,he poles, by reducing
4 rhe electrical condition uf the air, may
iLave something 10 do with the question,
| And, under any circumstances, the entire
subject is deserving of the serious rons;jeT-
alton of the nlahematicia,,, as well as the
inatnra philosopher, upon the assumption
! That attraction Of gravliaticn' is atrlhHa-
lie 10 electrical condition, since we haFs
tnow ohyinIlsly lost sa,hraclion of rH:SiH.'