The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-15

Neither Light nor Hot.
Wr itten for the journal by Charles P Jacobs.
According to the generally received theory,
announced by Alexander Wilson in IVA the
sun is a dark globe or ball, surrounded by
three layers or envelopes, entirely distinct
from each other The ball or globe Of the
sun is sometimes called the nucleus, and
neither It's size nor density is accurately
known. The first envelope, or layer, nearest
the suns surface, is formed of an Opaque,
cloudy stratum, rejecting light, but not self
luminous. The second envelope, or layer, is
formed of gases in an incandescent, that is,
glowing or burning condition, and is there
fore self-luminous or gives forth light, like
any burning mass of matter. The outer sur
face of this glowing, burning mass is called
the philosophers, or the light-sphere. The
third atmosphere is transparent, and is il
lumined by the philosophers.
What we call the suns disk, the round,
well-defined edge which is seen through a
smoked glass, is the outer surface of the sec
ond layer the photosphere, and the nucleus,
or body of the sun, its globe, is never seen at
all. except as hereinafter stated. This theory
of the sun, partly original with Wilson, has
received the assent of nearly all the astron-
omers, from his time to the present.
1t is obvious, if this theory be the true
one that the sun is the center of intense
light and heat. Indeed, some physicists
insist that the nucleus or ball of the
sun, although dark is hotter than even the
photosphere itself. But, be this as it may,
the intensity of the light and heat generated
upon the surface of the sun, or in his at
mosphere, is only TO be measured by an ar
ray of figures that passes actual comprehen-
sion. The intensity of its light, however, is
not the same in all parts. 1t varies consider
ably, being greater in the center than at the
edges
According to Arago, the solar light, as it
reaches the earth, is Is, 900 times more intense
than the flame of a wax-candle. Wallashon
says the brightness of the sun is 800, 600 times
that of the full moon.
AS to the intensity of solar heat an estima-
ton, based on the law of decrease of radiant
heat places it at 100000 times greater at the
sun than at any point on the surface of the
earth.
Perhaps it will be better understood in this
way: Sir John Herschel estimates that
the he, OF the sun at its surface is
great enough to melt column of ice 1899
miles square and 194,626 miles high. Such
heat as this is simply inconceivable to the
human mind.
But as with the light, so with the heat rays;
they vary in intensity as we pass from the
center TO the edges OF the suns disk, and the
polar regions are colder than the equatorial
ones. Properly speaking, the --latest heorv
of the solar rays is that the old classification
of them into light rays heat rays and chem
zeal rays is incorrect Says Prof. Young in
his recent work on the sun: "All the waves
of solar radiation are carriers of energy, and
and when intercepted, do work, producing
heat or vision or chemical action. according
to circumstances. There is here, to my
thinking. the germ of greater truth than
Prof. Young seems to have conceived.
But as have said, ali scientists so far as
] know. agree in the theory that the sun is
intensely hot aud intensely bright, and
while holding strongly 10 the theory, the
question has arisen how to account for the
supply of fuel which keeps up this ever
burning CONFEDERATION.
AS to how great an amount is required.
another illustration will help us to CON
ception of it: 1t has been coniectu red that
if the earth were one solid mass of anthracite
coal and were suddenly thrown into the sun
and consumed. it would not feed the solar
furnaces but for comparatively few years.
Or, to put it another way to produce the
amount of heat radiated by the sun by COM
bustion "wouid require the hourly burning
nfa rf,Fs O al In, Vto
feet Give meters) thick over the entire sur