Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-10

who thought themselves great but whose greaheSs
stupid public would not recognize. 1t was rich as
farce to notice the tricks they played off to give them
selves Fictitious importance-the shroud OF mystery
the pompous strut, &C., &c.
left Chapel Hill on Friday morning-my first and
last visit. In the afternoon | saw, at Raleigh, our
Light Infantry exchanging parting salutalons with the
President. We'll disciplined and orderly they made a
splendid show ID their magnificent uniforms, 'and drew
warm commentators from Mr.. Buchanan. Whatever
their politics, they must cherish pleasant recoec
ton of the genial courteous old who though chief
of the nation, orgets that he is man, and citizen
and gentleman.
have many more notes but | forbear. | am afraid
have already sadly bored you and your readers am
fresh from University watched over by an Argus of
one hundred PSI I will make my bow saying" Yale
dotisSme," &C.. &c. NIATOR.
For the Journal.
MEssRs. EDITORS In order render of articles
scientific Subjects attractive, they must not only be dis
cursve but of varate character By writing speaking
much particular point deal of repetition cannot be
and neither of them attended to by readers or hearers be-
the listening mind that is anxious for knowledge and
metaphyscaly introduced prove principle which
have denied. This article will treat on
ATMOSPHERIC RESISTANCE TO BODIES IN MOTION.
In using the 'Spdce which shall be compelled to
do wish distinctly understood that do refer in
its ifne sense but merely embracing the atmosphere
surrounding globe which supposed to extend
more than forty miles above its surface 1t long sup
posed and asserted that atmospheric air nc0nprS
Sble but the experiment of Calico previous to the dis
coveres of Paschal and Torce demonstrated that is
not only cOmFeSslb but an elastic and pOnderOuS body
been condensed weighed heavier than when the air
was IN its ordinary state of tension. Hence
valuable truth proven and the discovery of which so
far science is concerned but little inferior that
Newton respecting gravity Torricel having his atten-
ton called to the principle alluded to- watched IN Florence
an attempt to raise water by a common pump to height
exceeding IS feet or course from the moment the water
resistance not permit the of the the
pipe above 80 feet and such column is hence deemed su-
cent to equpose the atmosphere balance its pressure
The discoveries Of TOrice led to the invention of the bar
ometer which instrument graduated at level of the Sea
the tube being So inches length the atmosphere
found capable Of counterbaancng column of mercury 80
inches in height But upon ascending mountain
observed that the mercury fell the tube and it shown
that at 1000 feet above the original level it sank to %
and gradually till at the height Of 20 miles the column
Now may be objected that these points have nothing
do with the subject proposed to be treated in this r
Gle; butt upon reflection they appear highly necessary and
must be admissible, before complete any syogsm in
reference to the influence of the atmosphere bodies in
motion
We admit then that atmospheric air is elastic,
presble and ponderous body Now, to Illustrate let
suppose body ascending perpendicuarly from the earth
through space does not follow that proportion to the
height attained the atmospheric resistance dmnshed and
that such body could be carried beyond atmosphere
its principles of gravity would be destroyed and it could
not return to its starting pont This is plain and simple
reasoning according scientific principles. There is
nice distinction however, between such an ascension as
have referred to, and that produced by proece force
.
required Let us for instance that ball is
discharged from piece of ordnance, in perfect line of
perpendicular ascent and that the atmosphere such line
removed, would the ball. meeting with resistance
and overcoming its gravity by the nterpositon of the pro-
Jecte force employed continue its until would
be impossible for it to return to its starting point! This
trust, sufficiently plain. But may be asked why is it
that the ball does not continue its ascent under Ordi-
nary circumstances but will return near to the spot
from which it discharged The is easily made
it meets with the resistance Of the atmosphere which,
have already shown is elastic cOmpressbe and ponder
body The ascent of the ball through space is there
force is expended is sustained for an instant in equb
um and for an ant only for its gravity and the atmos
pherc pressure compel it to return to whence it came and
were 1t not Tor other influences operating upon but which
are too foreign to be treated of in this article, it would
descending seek and eoccupy the same position in the
cannon that it had previous to its discharge The time
cupied its ascent and descent precisely alike the
medium of resistance in either direction the
Now let us apply this principle of atmospheric resistance
to bodies having horizontal notion and with this eXcep
ton of the law which operates distance from the EARTH
snail hnd 1t still latent but easily made capable OF demonsra
on In speaking of the air. Of aude to it being
in state of ineraha is every particle of it is at rest
Stationary bodies therefore, not operated upon by it,
Its pressure being equal at point But let us, for in
stance test the resistance of the to bodies in notion by
expanding an umbrella and carry along swiftly with It's
concavly IN the line of notion and it will be found that In
proportion to the speed will resistance be increased
And why so increased Because the air is an elastic com
pressbe and ponderOus body have already shown and
if effort made to increase the passage of the
brea through beyond certain speed 1t would be nver
ted by the resistance and such position having less air to
displace, it could be moved along WITH comparatively
speaking but little opposition To illustrate farther let us
occupy station railroad the deck of steam
boat rapid motion, while the air inert and shall
lind what many conceive to be- fine breeze blowing against
from the direction Of motion This, however, science
teaches, is not the case at the moment when motion
ceases the sensation of breeze with it, 1t follows,
therefore, that the sensation of breeze is produced by
body dsacns the resisting air in our passing through it.
Other illustrations might be easily given-such the
movement of the wings of bird-that Of fan,
which many use for cooling themselves, without ia king
the trouble inquire the principles of its action. Should
the fan be moved edgeWise the resistance Of the atmosphere
would be almost mperceptbe but little displacement O:
atoms IN inertia would take place but the mome the sur
face placed upon angle with the line Of motion the
sstance becomes apparent and increased to its maximum
when the full surface Of the fan is presented.
Hence follows from this demonstration, that atmos
phere presents resistance all bodies motion animate
or inanmate ponderabe imponderable, fixing limit
speed and without such limit everything would be state
of chaos.
This subject Messrs Editors presents wide fed for OBJ
servaton and that not extending beyond planet
simple article and others which may contribute merely
to call attention especially that of youth) the I'M
portance Of understanding principles which, are al
ways in action; and that all may be able, when
called on to adduce for results for, without such
knowledge have a claim superiority, in
Outstanding Nature laws the principles which they
act.
apologize for having written so much while have said
little to the point in this article To the subject
i'll minutia would require much labor and time but my
is served when can awaken relish for what useful and
necessary.
In future article may refer many results which
owe their origin to Natural laws relative bodies in
ton but this must suffice for the present. your columns
no doubt required for the presentation of much more in
terestlng matter. &. II.
To the Editors Of the Journal:
regret divisions and discOrd engendered in
the ranks of the Democracy Of Congressional District by
rashness haste and temper The Editor of the Caronar
should learn moderation certainly better taught,
he would take time cool and reflect. Permit to
mend to his consideration he Proverbs of Solomon, and tc
dorse his and to rrtae rather than soothe dsen
TONS to provoke controversy and ALLEVIATE friends rather