The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-03-15
IS TIE Sun WISHING ?


-s s
Is THE Sun WASTING P
During the last twenty years the sub
fcct OF the constitution of the sun has
attracted very great attention, not only
amongst scientific men, but amongst in
teiligent readers of oDl1s and news
papers. We think it, therefore, of in
terest to give our readers a popular aC-
count OF the different theories upon the
sun s heat, and especially a new one
bearing the name of DR.. Siemens, whose
reputation is so well known from his
discoveries OF metallurgy and electric
lty, and who filled the chair of the Brit
lsh association for the Advancement Of
Science at its meeting at southampton.
Most of our readers doubtless know
The chief figures which denote the di-
mansions of the sun, especially since
the transit of Venus eight years ago led
To correction of the distan of the
sun from the earth, according to the
figure that had for many years been ac-
cepted. But perhaps not so many per-
sons have realized the enormous figures
that represent the heat of the soar orb,
as contrasted with the figures that we
are familiar with on the subject of ter
restrial heat.
million three hundred thousand times
that of the earth, and its distance from
us, in round numbers, about ninety
three millions of miles. And since we
all OF us every day see the wonderful
effects of the heat and light which even
this little world of ours receives, we
can form some faint idea of the CnOr-
nous amount of heat continually given
ont by the sun and the prodigious waste
that must be going on And if we would
form any real estimate of this heat and
waste, we must remember that all the
light and heat which is received by the
earth and other planets is n very small
proportion of the amount that is being
continually poured forth. 1t might be
shown with a moderate knowledge OF
geometry, that the amount so shed into
space, where there are no planets to re
Ce.ve il, is two thousand two hundred
and fifty million times as great as that
which is received b. all the planets
which form our solar system.
We naturally ask: What is the condi-
ton of body which is capable Of
throwing out for thousands, and per
haps millions, of years, so vast an
amount of light and heatP For it has
been computed that the temperature OF
the surface OF the sun would be ex
pressed by eighteen thousand degree,
of Fahrenheits thermometer, or be-
tween eighty and ninety times the tenn
perature of boiling water. This Is about
five times the highest temperature tina
man is able to produce by artificial
means Also the light given OF from
the same surface is computed as being
five thousand three hundred times nor,
intense than that OF the molten metal il
fLArrfrln is n
an almost binding brilliancy. Or if w,
compare it with the oly-hydroger
flame, the sun sheds q light equal to
hundred and forty-s5X times the intensity
of the lime-Hght.
SO intense is the heat Of the sun tina
no known substance could remain in
solid form when subjected To such {
temperature. Hence IL has been con
Guided that the entire orb, vast as it is
is an aggregation of gases altOgethe
void of any trace of liquid or solid sub
stance; moreover, that the outside Wis
iblc surface of the sun flows like TIT
surface of the sea, or rather like vapor
Gus masses of cloud and misty air. Blu
we must not suppose that this yapOrOu,
material is of little weight Throughout
the whole substance of the sun; for il
consequence of the sun vast size, tn,
pressure i'm the inward port ons must bt
SO great through'the influence of attrac
ton that the internal mass is believe,
TO be denser than water. And aS tn,
late Prof. Clerk Maxwell and other
kave shown thatthe viscOsity or tcnacit,
of a gas increase, fast with the rise O
its temperature, il Is possible that thu
vaporous matter of the suns interio
would resist motion like mass O, pit
or putty.
When thinking about this enormous
amount o heat philosophers have nat
urallv inquired whether it IS being dis
sipated gradually or whether il is b,
some means sustained Undiminished
and il so sustained. by what means
There have until recently been put tortl
two theories on the matter; but recent
" n third has been preached by DR.
Sicmcns, and il has appeared in tn,
NiQeYcsRth century, under the title o
"a New Theory of the sun that is
rs regards the sustentatjon of its hgh
and heat We will mention the ole
theories in their natural orders. First
n all our everyday experience teaches U
that when combustion il taking place
the substances which are giving on
light and heat are parting with thei
matter, and causing IL TO assume differ
eut forms. as gas and rcsiduum Of ash
piece of wood or coal, or even a piece o
paper. We do not say the substance !
lost. If we could gather up all the prod
ucts of the combustion we should N,
that they had not lost a particle of the
weight, but that the form of them wa
materially changed This, then, w
conclude is the case with the sun. A
we have stated above, the enOrmou
light and heat which is be ng continue
" thrown into space proves that tn,
sun is converting much of its substance
into other forms; and, unless the vast,
be supplied from some external source
the material of which the orb is com
posed can not fail TO be gradual.
diminishing; though in the cas- of
body of such large dimensions it mus
be long time lefore there is any per
ceptible diminution either Of volume o.
heat But the loss of heat is by som,
believed to be compensated by the 4 N
inution of volume. Prof. Newcombe
Of Yale College, Uni'Ed States, hai