The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-18
From DIR. Brewers Guide Science.
Science Answering Simple Questions.

Why is rain water soft? Because it is not mpregna.
ted with earth and minerals.
Why y il more easy TO wash with soft water than with
hard Because soft water untes freely with soap, and
dissolves 1t instead OF decomposing it, hard water
does.
Why do wood ashes make hard water soft,
st Because the carbonic acid OF wood ashes combines
with the suphae OF lime in the hard water, and converts
it into chalk; 2dy, wood ashes convert OF the
soluble salts oil water into insolnble and throw them
down sediment, by which the water remains more
pure.
Why has rain water such an unpleasant smell when
it is collected in ralnwater tub or tank Because il
is impregnaed with decomrosed organic matters wash
ed from roofs trees or the casks IN which it is col
lected.
Why does water melt satl Because very minute par
tces OF water nsnuate themselves into the pores Of
the salt by capiory attraction and force the crystals
apart from each other.
How does blowing hot foods make them cool It
causes the air which has been heated by the food to
change more rapidly and give place TO fresh cold air
Why do ladies fan themse yes in hot weather. That
fresh PARTICLES OF air may be brought in with their
face by the action OF the fan and every fresh particle
OF air absorbs some heat from the skln, this constant
chaage makes them cool.
Does fan cool the ayr No, makes the air hotter,
by imparng it the heat of face but il coos our
face by transferring its heat 10 the air.
Why is there always strong draught through the
keyhole OF door' Because the air, in the room
cupy than the air in the hall therefore the
air from the hall Iushes through the key hole into the
room, and causes draught
Why is there always strong draught under the door
cold air rushes from the hall to supply the void in the
room caused by the escape OF warm air up the chimney
sc.
Why is there always draught through the window
crevces Because the external air. being colder than the
air OF the room occupy, rushes through The window
creyces supply the deficiency caused by the escape
the warm air up the chimney, &c.
Ii you open the lower sash oil window there is more
draught than If you open the upper sash. Explain the
OF this II The lower sash be open, cold external
air will rush freely into the room and cause a great
daugh inward but if the upper sash be Open the heat.
ed air OF The ill rush out and OF course there will
be less draugbt inward.
By which means is better veniilated-by open.
ing the upper or lower sash A room is better venta-
Ted by opening the upper sash because the hot vaied
air. which always ascends toward the ceiling can escape
more easily.
By which means is hot room more quickly cooled
by opening the upper lower sash A hot room is
cooled quickly by opening the lower SASH
the cold air enter freely at the lower part of
the room than a, the upper
Why does the wind dry damp lineni Because dry
wind, like dry sponge imbbes the particles OF vapor
from the surface Of the linen as fast as they are
formed
Which is the hottest place in church or chape' The
gallery.
Why is the gallery of all public places hotter Than the
lower parts OF the buildings Because the heated air OF
the building ascends and all the cold air which can en-
ter through the doors and windows keeps 10 The floor I'LL
II has become heated.
Why do plants often grow out of walls and towers
Either because the wind blew the seed there with the
dust or else because bird, flying over, dropped
seed there, which Al had formerly eaen.