The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-12-06
.rnn PRonLnM or rHn FLYING
MACHINE,

nnlllhiipHl NihblNh ilNlf ~ N"''N'i ~
the University OF California, 20 CON
tribute 70 the current number Of Tho
Popular NOienoe Monthly an inIen6nly
Interesting article on the aboyeeubIeet'
starting out with tho objection that
seemingly far more wonderful things
have come 10 pass, the writer shows
that there are two kinds OF impoealbleh
the Reemingand tho real the first be
ing only 80 because we do not under
stand the principles involved la the
problem, and therefore cannot con
ceiye tho conditions necessary for their
successful application, Examples of
huoh cases are thOhe triumpha Of sol
euce, the locomotive, tho telegraph, etc,
Real impOasiblea, on the contrary, we
know 10 be such, because We see cleaflg
through all the principles involved aud
the limita Of their possible application
70 this class belong tbs problems OF q
perpetual motion machine aud the helf
supporting arch Of indefinite length
Attention IL called 10 the curious fact
that OF these two kinds 0f imposGblea,
tho 0fst, or seeming, are, TO the unre'
necting, by far the more impossible on
wonderful, la fact 10 most people tho
real inpoaaiblea do not heem impo6si'
Bile, or wonderful, or even difficult
"ilenoe, In every age aad county we
And men who waste their lives In vain
attempts TO make perpetual motion
machines" SO with the other problem
Most people do not AT once see why an
arch or bridge OF any length should not
support itself, II only II be big aud
strong In proportion 10 It's length
In this problem ofthe arch, the FRO
lessor points out the true principle IN
yolyed, which makes ita solution clearly
impossible, viz; It's weight increases ~
the cube OF tho diameter OF Ml It's
parts, while the strength increases only
as the square of their diameter Weight
therefore oyertakoa strength Ia lncrtas'
ing size, aud u limit Is quickly reached
beyond which II IL impossible for an
arch or suspension bridge 70 support
itself.
CThB fundamental principle that
WEIGHT increases faster In proportion
than strength, 10 the basis Of much OF
the Professors subsequent reasoning,
applying 90 " does, not 10 arches ana
bridges alone, hut 10 nll kinds OF struct'
ures, and therefore 10 locomotive na'
chimes, whether natural OF artllclal.
There Ii therefore q limit ofalae beyond
which o walking animal cannot exist,
o, &, the whale having pulsed H. was
compelled % take 10 the water. IL IN
by the aid OF this principle that many
things In nature, otherwise inexplicabler
are explained, such ag the marvels OF
inaect motion, swift digit OF birds.
prodlglous leaps OF neas, strength OF
ants, etc, these apparently wonderful
feaR being simply the result OF theii
small size, This principle applying
with increased force 10 flying animals
on account Of the enormous energy no
CURED, restricts their size and weight "a
n limit put by the writer qt between
lity and one hundred pounds.
There Ia In yet another principle IN.
volyedi IN fight, viz; The resistance OF
the air TO motion through H. In a Ny.
ing animal the difficulty Of rising IN
croases Az size or weight, but once on
the wing the resistance Of the air L
motion, and, therefore, the difficulty o
propulsion, decreases In the same ratio
the one varying directly, the other In
yersely, as the size, This explains VIII!
large birds, like the Condor, rise will
difficulty, but once up sail with cas-
and grace, while small birds and Insect
risewith ease, but require rapid AM
incossant %0uttering IN progressing,
APPLICATION 10 A FLYING MACHINE
Here, says the writer, IN objectiUI
may DO looked for on the part OF thos
who have thus far %assented, that Will
all this may be true Of flying animals
4 may not be true ut least TO the sam
extent !. Q, the limit may not be 3
low-in flying machines. There or
forces, they will say, such US steam
electricity, explosives, etc. which or
far moro powerful than muscular COZ
traction, Especially is electricity lool
cd 70 do for II many wonderful thing
this Of flying among the number Mo-
this, says Prof. 10 Conte, Is u greg
mistake. Nerve, energy, acting throug
muscular contraction and supplied b
the combustion Of foods, such as oil
fats, starch, sugar, etc, form The MOI
perfect aud efficient engine known, lie
will do more work with the sam
weight Of machinery and fuel. Con
pared with the best Cornish engine, III
animal body 10 about twice 40 eiIectiyI
When we consider these, the wonde
= ful effectiveness Of this machine, ho.
Il has gradually been perfected throug
Infinite ages, steadily improving !
structure OF ok oleton, energy OF muScl
aud rapidity OF fuel, combustion al
n that furthermore in the bird, ever.
thing is sacrificed TO rapidity Of tiigll
yisccra, skeleton, head, legs, all BEN
as light and small as possible To mai
room for the great pectoral muscl'
working the wings, and add TO this u
exquisite structure Of the wings al
feathers; we may well despair OF beil
able to construct any machine half
effective. Yet 1t reached It's limit
weight at about fifty pounds. No