Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-09-10
science Answering Questions.

Science Answering Questions.
Why is rain water soft Because it is
not impregnated with earths and minerals.
Why is it more easy to wash with
soft water than with hard Because soft
water unItes freely with soap, and dissolves
it instead of decomposing it, as hard water
does.
Why do wood ashes make hard water
soft? Isl, Because the carbonic acid Of
wood ashes combines with the sui phate of
lime in the hard water, and converts it into
chalk and 2dly, Wood ashes convert
some of the soluble salts of water into IN
soluble, and throw them down as sedi-
ment, by which the wafer remains more
pure.
Why has rain water such an unpleasant
smell when it is collected in rain-water
tub or tank ! Because it is impregnated
with decomposed organic matters, washed
from roofs, trees, or the casks in which it
is collected.
Why does water melt salt Because
very minute particles of water insinuate
themselves into the pores of the salt by
capillary attraction, and force the crystals
apart from each other.
How does blowing hot foods make them
cool 1t 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 themselves in hot
weather! That fresh particles of air may
be brought in contact with their face by
the action of the fan and as every fresh
particle of air absorbs some heat from the
skin, this constant change makes them
cool.
Does fan cool the air? No; it makes
the air hotter, by imparling to it the heat
of our face; but it cooIs our face, by trans
! ferring its heat to the air.
Why is there always strong draught
/ through the keyhole of door ? Because
the air in the room we occupy is warmer
than the air in the hall therefore, the air
/ from the hall rushes through the keyhole
into the room, and causes draught.
! Why is there always a strong draught
under the door, and through the crevces
on each side? Because cold air rushes
from the hall, to supply the void in the
room caused by the escape of warm air
up the chimney, etc.
/ Why is there always draught through
the window creyices Because the exter-
/ nal air, being colder than the air of the
room we occupy, rushes through the win
dow crevices TO supply the deficiency
caused by the escape of warm air up the
/ chimney, etc.
If you open the lower sash of the win
dow, there is more draught than if you
/ open the upper sash. Explain the reason
/ of this. If the lower sash be open, cold
external air will rush freely into the room,
and cause great draught lnwards but II
/ the upper sash be open, the heated air OF
the room will rush out; and, of course,
there will be less draught inwards.
By which means is room better ven
/ tilated, by opening the upper and lower
sash A room is better ventilated by
opening the upper sash; because the hot,
vitated air, which always ascends towards
/ the ceiling, can escape more easily.
By which means is hot room more
quickly cooled, by opening the upper or
lower sash A hot room is cooled more
! quickly by opening the lower sash; be-
/ cause the cold air can enter more freely at
the lower part Of the room than at the up
/ per.
Why does the wind dry damp linen p?
] Because dry wind, like a dry sponge, I'M
bibes the particles of vapor from the sur
face of the linen, as fast as they are formed.
Which is the hottest place in church
or chapel! The gallery.
/ Why is the gallery of all public places
hotter than the lower parts of the build
ing? Because the heated air of the
building ascends; and all the cold air
which can enter through the doors and
windows keeps TO the floor, Till it has be-
come 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 some bird, flying over, drop
ped seed there which it had formerly eat
en.-Dr. Brewer'S Guide to Science.