The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-13
HnnddI Motion OF
Old Mother Earth
Laws and Forces Governing the Sphere
on Which We Live.
THE EARTH'S ORIGINAL SHAPE
Martin Joyce Continues His Interesting
Discussion of the Causes of the Globes
Diurnal Rotation and Of Its Yearly
Rotation and Oblateness

DiSSuSSiOu VI TIC SduScS VI the UlOpS .
Diurnal Rotation and of Its Yearly
Rotation and Oblateness
In attempting to describe the causes
OF the earth's annual motion in an ell
liptical orbit, we will begin at the win
ter solstice. Our preference for that
particular part of the orbit might seem
arbitrary, but for obvious reasons We
take II as the initial point of inquiry, as
we simply wish to reach such as desire
to acquire general knowledge of the
motion peculiar to our planet. Admit
ting the fact, or more strictly speaking,
the universal belief that when God at
the beginning had formed the earth
from quiescent and inert matter, the
planet was projected into space and
the forces of projection and attraction,
already inherent in the particles of mat
ter since their first combination, for the
first time coinstantaneously, those
forces acted upon the earth, then, as a
result, the first and shortest rotation of
the new born planet must have oc-
Cured at the winter solstice. And as
the earth had then tendency, as 1t has
at all times, in accordance with the laws
Of gravity and centrifugal force, to d.
verge from the point of projection and
move in tangent to the orbit, which
it was intended to describe, the centri-
petal force instantly counteracted the
direct tendency of the earth, and thus
by the combination of the action and
counteraction Of both forces, projec-
tion and attraction, the earth was i'm
PEELED in an oblique direction during
each rotation until the first annual
revolution or yearly course was accom-
plished in an elliptical orbit, and for the
first time the earth had taken her place
among the planetary orbs.
Accordingly the earth's absolute mo-
tion, forces, momentum and velocity
became fixed and adjusted to her opera
tions, thus making her the home of
myriads of the human race during
countless generations. And here the
human mind, realizing the harmony and
design of the universal whole, is some
times constrained to wander into the
realms of metaphysics and look over
the domain of theology. Viewing the
laws and conditions of our own planet
with awe and admiration, we cannot
fail to discover the ubiquity of God and
the sublime harmony of His works.
Following the Earth's Path.
But to return to the causes of the
earths annual motion, it will be neces-
sary to follow her in her path so as to
reach conclusions as to the information
in view. Then we trace the oblique di-
rection of the earth's orbit and find her
in different positions with regard to the
sun, and particularly so on March q,
when she is neither inclined to nor de-
clined from the great luminary as ex-
! planned in our recent article on the
equinoXes.
In thus pursuing the earthin her path.
we should not lose sight Of the action
and counteraction of the forces of pro-
| lection and attraction as she moves in a
semi-circular direction towards the
Aphelion point, July l, when both forces
reach their minimum, and become al
most equi-balanced, causing the earth
to move slowly nearly eight days. We
should also consider the Importance of
paracentric motion at the earth's ap-
proach to the sun and her recession
from him. From Aphelion, We notice
how the force of projection struggles
| with the force of attraction and the
! earth with increased velocity rotates
daily, the orbit continually curving in
an elliptical form till the earth reaches
Perihelion, Jan. /. Having completed
her journey at the winter solstice, she
moves on her next annual course In ac-
cordance with the laws of fluidity, grav-
ity, centripetal and centrifugal forces.
At Perihelion, the forces attain their
maximum, which is at the time of our
proximity to the sun. 1t Is here the
| force of paracentric motion should be
considered, as it is the difference be-
tween centrifugaland centripetalf forces.
But as there was no danger at the be-
ginning of our planet approaching too
| IN the Mt parihalipn fbara ie,
no further dread of either approach to
the sun or recession from It,. as centri-
fugal force predominates and with in
creased velocity carries the earth along
in her orbit, at the same time affecting
the momentum of the earth itself by
the velocity and acceleration. So, we see
from year to year, that the prescient ar
rangement of the laws and forces gov
erning the earth as planet are uner-
ring and as imperishable as matter is
indestructible. Such laws and forces
are not the work of chance, as they
manifest accuracy, design and fixity of
purpose. We would like to enter more
fully into the subject, but we are aware
that the columns of The Tribune are
limited to other matters Of public inter-
est, consequently we must resort to
brevity by submitting the following
| lCllllo Will anu ClOSlIlk WlIn
remarks on the original state and for
nation Of the earth, so that the readers
attention might be directed to further
inquiry:
Eight Propositions.
First-Motion is the transit, or change
Of body from one position in space to
another.
Second-Velocity is the rate of mo-
tion peculiar to body. 1t is variable,
relative and uniform.
Third-Momentum is the quantity of
motion of given body measured by the
product of the mass of the body by it's
velocity.
Fourth - Force is that material
energy which produces motion orchange
of motion and depends on its intensity,
direction and point of application
Fifth-Centripetal force urges body
constantly toward the center of its cir
cular path.
Sixth-Centrifuga force is the tend
ency which the body has to recede from
the center In consequence of the resist
ance which it offers to deviation or
detection from rectilinear course-the
resistance, known as inertia, being esti-
mated in the direction of the radius.
Seventh - The earth Is an oblate
spheroid, owing to the protrusion at the
equator and the detection, or flat sur
face at the poles.
Eighth-Matter at any given instant,
must be either in motion or at rest. In
ert matter is powerless to change its
state; and equally powerless when
moved to stop or change its direction.
In order to make our brief observa-
tions on the original state and forma-
tion of the earth ineligible, we will in
troduce some propositions and deduc-
tions:
Proposition first-In conformity with
the universal laws of gravitation the
essential or component parts of all
bodies mutually attract each other. and