The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-11-01
Where Do the Clouds Float d!

For too long n time the scientific
world has believed in the idea Of Do
Saussure-that the water particles, Of
which clouds and fogs consist, are vesi-
cles, analogous to soap bubbles, consist.
ing Of wntery envelope, with vacuum
inside, so as TO be specifically lighter
than the mir. 1t is strange, says tho
Manufacturer and Builder, that the
fact is continually being overlooked that
il particles are only small enough they
may DO kept up in liquid or gas, not
withstanding the material Of which they
are parts is considerably heavier than
the medium in which they float. Pow
dews of heavy material may be kept up
in water for days and weeks, rs those
who prepare polishing powders know.
The finest emery is only obtained from
water from which the coarse PARTICLES
havo been deposited in different periods
Of time, according to their tiueness,
when ut Inst, after collecting tho de-
posts OF many hours, and even days,
the very finest parts do not settle until
after many weeks rest.
Il is the same in the mir If We collect
the dust deposited in room which has
been closed for some weeks, and examine
it, wo will find it NIL to consist Of parti-
cles Of very heavy materials, and if ma
chine shops aro i'll tho neighborhood,
even metallic dust will be recognized.
Now when heavy metallic dust can DO
carried in the air, why not water dust,
which is much lighteri In viewing the
grand falls Of niagara, We have noticed
TINT, when the atmosphere was not too
dry, 80 rs to cause the spray to disap-
pear, while the sky was covered with
loose floating clouds, the sprny in rs
cending formed cloud identical to the
others, with which it tloated away.
The height ut which the clouds will
float depends chiefly on the size Of the
wstery particles larger they are the
lower the clouds will float. This was re-
Gently verified by Mr.. Angus Smith in
Iceland, where he observed cloud or
fog rolling down the streets like dust.
It came from the sea, aud the particles
were larger than any ho had ever seen
before, being about one four.hundredth
OF m inch in diameter. He did not find
the particles hollow, but concrete
throughout, and in his account refers
also to the absurdity Of the theory That
the cloud particles should consist Of hol-
low spheres or vesicles.
The power which holds small and
heavy particles up in liquid or gas is
simply the adhesion, which increases
with the surface. The finer the dust is
the larger is tho surface as compared
with the volume, and when the adhesive
action Of the LIQUID or gas on this large
surface is great enough it may overcome
gravitation and the particles cannot fall,
but will DO kept floating.
That there is strong adhesion be-
tween mir md water is proved by the
effect OF wind on the surface OF water,
especially when compared with the effect
Of the wind on watery surface lubri-
Gated with n film Of oil /; then the air
glides over it without causing even a rip
pie On this depends the quieting effect
Of oil when poured on turbulent waves
when they are caused by wind. Oil
poured OH the waves Of the rapids Of
the st. Lawrence river would by no
means have that same quoting effect.