Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-10-21
Synopsis of New Theory of the Forma-
ton Of the Solar System.

tation by the collision Of its constituents,
whatHs called the "nebuar hypothesis" Of the forma-
ton OF the solar system. Assuming that the nebula
was exceedingly hot, and that il was continually
cooling and contracting, TO occupy less space its
axal rotation must according to Laplace, have in
creased in the same proportion its diameter de-
creased The centrifugal force, thus generated caused
the outer portion Of the TO become separated in
the form Of ring, which afterwards aggomernted in
to plfnet. In the same manner n second and third
ring was formed, and so until the present sun and
planets resulted.
This hypothesis has, in my mind. several very ser-
Gus, not to say fatal defects. 1t does not account for
the intervals, the magntudes the densities Of the
planets, and it is contradicted by the fact that the
satellites Of Uranus revolve from east to west whilo
all the planets revolve from west to cast 1t is also
inconsistent with the fact that the sun contains T3s
out OF '39 parts of the solar sysem and the fact that
the interior third Of the system contains 44O out of $50
parts of the remaining planetary matter Such dis
trbution could not possibly result from the prevalence
of centrifugal force on the contrary, centripetal
force must have predomnated to produce such CEN
traIization of matter After had arrived at this con-
cusion, and rejected the hypothesis of Lapace, en-
deavored to find more reasonable theory, and the
following is the result of my labors:
The distribution Of matter in the solar system rs
indicated by the relative magnitudes and densies of
the sun and planets is such would necessarily be
produced if Tie solar system formed from vast
spheroida wheel of nebulous matter rotating in re-
sisting medium 1t is well known that if mass Of
sand dust or misty matter rotates in n medium such
as air, water or ETHEREAL fluid, which presents slight
resistance to the movement the effect upon the rotat-
ing mass will be to cause its constituents to move in
spiral paths toward the centre. II is believed by as
tronomer that the comets approach to the sun
with each Of their revolutions because they encoun-
tered the resistance Of the ETHEREAL fluid that exists in
NIL space 1t is assumed by modern philosophers that
heat and light merely vbratory or undulating
motions of this ETHEREAL medium. Now, | conceive
that the resistance of the ETHEREAL medium must have
caused Il large proportion Of the primitive ncbuous
matter to accumulate in the centre and form the SUM-
We should consider that the effect of the resisting me-
dunn must have been greatest upon the least dense
portions Of the nebulous matter and that there woud
be tendency to winnow and separate the least dense
from the more Dense and defect it to the centre eav-
ing the more dense behind to form the planets. We
should also consider that the effect of the resisting
medium must have been in direct proportion to the
orbital velocity of the nebuous matter. The orb,al
velocity in accordance with the harmonic law, must
have been greatest in the which were nearest to
the central primary. In fact it greatest in the inte-
ror of the solar system between the orbit of Jupiter
and the 1t was in this part of the system that the
greatest proportion of the light matter was carried to
the CENTRE and that the remainder was rendered the
most dense. 1t is here that we now find the four
small, dense planets-Mercury, Venus, Earth and
Mars.
The nebulous mass, were it not for the effect of the
resisting medium, would have been in the form of a
spheroida Wheel ckest at the centre and gradually
thinner to the outer edge But the influence of the
resisting medium in the interior parts Of the system
changed the form Of the nebua from that of proper
spheroid to that ola wheel hckest in the centre and
at the orbit of Jupiter and very thin between the sun
and Jupiter. The proportions are seen in each
of the systems of satellites. First, there is n central
primary many times larger than all the seconGares;
next are several small secondary bodies; then follows
gigantic secondary, larger than all the Others to-
gether; beyond the giant severa! smaller bodies
with wide intervals.
Having accounted for the relative magnitudes and
denses of the planets, | will give what ! conceive to
be the true theory of their relative distances and We
locities. If we could have the power to trans
form all the planets that revove around the sun into
through the space between the sun and the orbit of
Neptune, all the particles would instantly be acted
upon by two opposing forces, one of which would be
mutual attraction, II tendency to cohesion if this
could prevail it would bind the whole system into one
vast wheel In opposition to this cohesive tendency
would be the differences of orbital velocity. The
particles nearest to the would move with greater
orbtal velocity than those little further removed,
AM in fast ,ba s,ilI
more distant. The tendency of these differences of
velocity would be to divide the system or wheel into
almost infinite number of concentric rings each of
which would move faster than its next exterior ring
and slower than its next interior ring twill readily
be seen that the antagonsm between the two tenden-
cies would result in a compromise, and that the wheel
would be divided into II definite number OF rings
A little examination will also satisfy MS that the
rings must necessarily be narrower the nearer they
to the SUM- for the reason that the velocities in
creasing rapidly, given difference of orbal velocity
be obtained there with less difference of distance
from the sun.
A still farther examination will discover to us
that there must be common difference between the
velocities of the rings. The is that the force
Of mutual attraction, which the differences of veloei-
ties have to overcome, is thssame Mt all distances
hum 'ho SuH tut lluolINtloH, w w "'7N'''N ''''
the force Of mutual attraction is equal TO 1850 oi
course difference of velocity equal to 1850, in any
part of the system, will produce separate ring, and
1850 will therefore be the difference OF orona
velocity between all the planets of that system
Thus, the ring A. will differ 1850 in orota velocity
from the next ring b. and B, will differ 1850 from c.
and on throughout the series. II all the rings were
formed into planets there would be II common differ
ence of 1850 between them. IL many OF the rings
were broken up into invisible asteroids, the normal
planets that were formed would still differ 1850, or
some multiple Of that number, in their velocities.
After this theory had occurred to my mind, pro-
ceeded to construct tables of the yeloces of the PLAN
cts and satellites, and Immediately discovered that
there is actually an important relation between the We
locites of the planets which has been hitherto I'M
known to astronomers, and which seems to establish
the new theory that led to its discovery beyond all
question. II this theory is true, not only pre-
determine the velocities but also the distances from
the centre of all the undiscovered planets satellites
of system, provided the velocites and distances Of
two are known for the orbital veoces, ole to an
other, nversely the square roots of their mean
distances. For instance, as the velocity Of Mercury
(liO) is to the velocity OF Mars 1857 SO Is the square