Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1858-08-28
Motion and Motors,

The question :" What is motion? ?" is so often
asked, and just as often unsatsfac orily answered.
that we will endeavor to throw some light on the
subject. When body occupies succesSively diff
ferent positions IN space, we say 1t Is In motion.
A log which rolls along the ground, a horse that
walks along road boat descending a river with
the current, are instances of bodies in motion.
Each Of these changes its position in regard to OBJ
iects which call fixed although really there is
sand-stlll in nature; but as We relatively take
part IN the same motion as the trees, the hills and
other land marks, to us they appear fixed. To
return to our question " What is moton?" we re-
ply, motion is the result of the action of the ee
mental forces of nature and, as they are always
at work, and ever have been, motion is eternal,
ilmtabIe, and all present. We call those forces
electricity, magnetism gravity, attraction, chem
icaI action and life, together with heat and light.
To these forces may be traced all the wonderful
changes of nature that are daily going on around
us and TO the application of these forces to our
own wants and requirements, we ascrIbe all that
man has done TO render easy the high roads of CIV
ilIzation, and make ways for truth through the
trackless ocean. Nature is the prime action, and
art the combined and controlled action of them !;
or. in other words, in nature they act governed
only by their own laws and IN art their laws are
made subservient to the wants OF man. The plan
cts in their movements around the sun, the sun
carrying by the force of his attraction, the plan
etary system through space, the motions OF all the
heavenly bodies are the result of combined atmO-
bilIty and gravity. The trees growing in the field,
animals increasing on the earth, and man standing
as presiding genus over the whole. owe their
existence To life and chemical action. The rock
crumbling under the action Of the weather, the
steamer crossing the mighty deep, the locomotive
pursuing its undertaking path, are the results of
heat. Light shines everywhere, and influences all
created things. These are the motors of creation
out of the power of man to create, but in his pow
er TO control.
Venturing cautiously a little deeper into the
subject, we find that all the above mentioned for
ces are related intimately the one to the other,
and that in many instances, one can develop the
rest Thus, electricity can develope heat, light,
magnetism, attraction, and chemical action, but
not gravity for life, for life, know the direct
gift of Ill CHER Power; and II would really seem
that all these which we now call seperate and dis
tinct are but the developments of one great force
which vet remains to be discovered.
Much has been said and written on this subject,
but without contributing any great amount OF
knowledge to that already in our possession, as
each author has taken more trouble to prove some
theory of his own than to investigate the simple
truth; this much, however, know, that the above
are the fountains Of motion. and there no effects
that cannot be traced to them.-Scientyfc American