Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-01
From Tie Loadoa GIobe1
The Rotation Of the Earth Rem
llcreI ViSihle

|
The experiment now being exhibited in
Paris, by which the diurnal rotation of the
earth is rendered palpable to the senses, is
one OF the most remarkable of the modern
vcrifications oftheory. Although the de-
monstration by which the rotation ofthe
earth has been established be such as to
carry conviction to the minds of all who
are capable of compromising it, to which
nothing can be imagined to add either force
or clearncss, nevertheless even the natural
philosopher himself cannot regard the pres
ent experiment without feelings ofprofound
interests and satisfaction, and to the great
mass, to whom the complicated physical
phenomena by which the rotation of the
earth has been established are incompre-
henslble, this experiment is Invaluable
AT the centre of the dome of the Patheon
fine wire is attached, from which sphere
Of metal, four or five inches in diameter, is
suspendeded SO as to hang near the floor of
the building. This apparatus is put in Vi
braiion after the manner of pendulum
| Under, and concentrical with it, is placed
circular table, some twenty feet in diam
eter, the circumference of which is divided
INTO degrees, minutes, &c, and the diyis
ions numbered. Now, it can be shown by
the most elementary principles of mcchan-
les, that, supposing the earth to have the
dIurnal motion upon its axis which is i'm
Puted to it, and which explains the phe-
nomena of day and night, &c, the plane in
which this pendulum vibrates will not be
effectedby this diurnal motion, but will
maintain strictly the same direction during
twenty-four hours. In this interval, how
ever, the table over which the pendulum
is suspended will continually change its
positionin virtue ofthe diurnal motion, so as
to make complete revolution round its
centre.
Since, then, the table thus rcvolves, and
the pendulum which vibrates over it docs
not revolvc, the consequence is that a line
traced upon the table by a point project
ing from the bottom of the ball will change
It's direction relatively to the table, from
| minute to minute and from hour TO hour, SO
| that if such point were pencil and that
paper were spread upon the table, the
course formed by this pencil during twen-'
ty-four hours would form system of lines
radiating from the centre of the tablcsan,a
the two lines formed after the interval Of
one hour would always form an angle with
each other of Is deg, being the twenty
fourth part Of the circumference. Now
| this Is rendered actually visible to the
crowds which daily flock to the Pantheon
to witness this remarkable experiment.
The practised eye of correct observer,
especially if aided by proper optical in
strument, may actually sec the motion
which the table has, in common with the
earth, under the pendulum, between two
successive vibrations. 1t is, in fact, appa-
rent that the ball, or rather the point at
tached to the bottom of the ball, does not
return precisely to the same point of the
circumference of the table after two sue
cessive vibrations.
Thus isrcndercd visib,eth the motion which
the table has in common with the GARTH
1t is true that, correctly speaking, the table
docs not turn round its own centre; but
turns round the axis of the earth; never
theless; the effect of the motion relatively to
the pendulum suspended over the centre
OF the table moved once in twenty four
hours round Its own centre, for although
the table be turned, in common with the
surface Of the earth, round the carth's axis,
the point of suspension of the pendulum is
turned also in the same time round the same
axis, being continually maintained vertical
above the centre of the table. The plane
In which the pendulum vibrates docs not.
however, partake of this motion, and, con-
sequently has the appearance Of revolving
once in twenty four hours over the table,
while, in reality, it is the table which re-
wolves once IN twenty-four hours under it.
CHARLESTON, April 25th.
LATE AND IMPORTANT FROM HAVANA.
The steamer Isabel" has arrived from
HAVANA. Much excitement continued to
exist on account of the invasion which was
expected to have landed on the 10Th inst.
The Captain General had received dis
patch stating that an expedition had sailed
from New Orleans.
The troops were sleeping on their arms,
horses were ready saddled for expresses,
and one steamer keeps her steam up con-
tlnually-but when the Isabel left nothing
had occurred. One Spaniard had been
condemned to death, having been detected
IN bribing pilot to assist Lopez. The
people are said to desire the invasion, and
are ready to join it when respectable force
lands on the Island.
| A TERRIBLE FtcuT Tho 11,l =;