The National tribune., 1897-10-28
PUZZLES and QUERIES.
Some Problems Which are Really
Worth While Working Out.

In place of puzzle column which only
contains - brain-rackers, involving ingenu-
itv. patience and research, without producing
anything of real interest and value IN the
end, we present puzzling problems IN science
and natural history, which involve actual.
valuable and practical knowledge, and
which, when worked out, Will add to the
workers store of information ON the working
of Natures great laws
Answers to these should be designated by
number, as we number them cOnSecutively,
give the answers in future issues, and also
the names of the most successful solyers.
Answers to the Puzzles and Queries published
in the issue of Oct Ia have been received from
several readers. Stanton Park. Atchison, Kan,
answered correctly Nos. 2, 3. and 6. 5. w.
Stabach, Oakland, Nd, answered correctly
No. g. Maiden, Mass reader showed con-
siderable research: he answered correctly Nos.
4, 5, and g. but in Nos. Z and gave illustrations
| instead of principles.
Answers.
| Here are the correct answers:
l. The most extensive view possible from
sealevel is at the pole. This is the result of the
fiattenng of the earth a; the poles causing the
horizon to be remote.
3 A ball dropped into we'll extending
through the earth to the antipOdes will vibrate
baoi, aud forth from side to the other with
| a gradually shortening path. and finally come
| to rest at the center of gravity, which may be
| the center OF the earth but is not necessarily
so, We're the hole vacuum, the ball would
| continue its movement indefinitely.
3. The Twentieth Centnry will begin with
| Jan. /. 1901.
T. Coca is ErythroryloH coca South Ameri-
| can shrub yielding the coca leaves of commerce.
! Coca leaves are chewed as stimuant by the
| Indians. They yield the drug cocaine. Cacao
| is The06rOmd CGcaO, the fruits OF which are the
source of both chocolate and casao. The cocoa
| nut palm is Cocos nucifsra, palm found in all
| tropical countries near sea-level. 1t yields the
| we'll known coc0anuts.
| s. Quinne is an alkalOid extracted from
| the bark Of the cinchona tree (Cinch0na
| caIisaya, Cinchona rabra Cinchona fara) The
bark itself was formerly largely used as q drug
| under the name of Peruvian bark"
6. Celluloid is a mixture of low nitrsted
| gun cottons (collodion cotton) with camphor.
| Z. Heat is necessary for the conversion of a
| liquid into vapor or a gas, as is we'll known
| i'll the case OF water and every other common
| liquid. When q su bstance which is gaseous ut
ordinary temperatures, such as ammonia
| Ordinary ammonia is a solution of the true
! ammonia in waterl is made liquid by pressure
| it becomes hot, the work done in compression
| having been con inverted into heat. III now the
| binary temperature and then allowed to sud-
denly expand, it takes up the heat necessary
| for its conversion into gas from surrounding
| objects. If the vessel in which il is ontained
and allowed to expand be surrounded by
water, the water is frozen.
| 8. When a magnet is brought near Q wire or
piece of metal it causes . mOmentary pulse-liks
| electric current through it. When the magnet
| is Withdrawn another thrill in the opposite d.
| rsction is caused. No current goes through
| the wire when magnet and wire are at rest.
| There is merely an instantaneous current in
| one direction when the magnet approaches,
and another when it is withdrawn. Dynamss
are so built that very powerful magnet ian
electro magnet, usually is alternately brought
| near to and withdrawn from a mass Of ceiled
| wire. A current is set up in each turn OF tho
! wire at each operation, and the sum of these
i currents form the immensely powerful currents
used for lightning. By appropriate mechanical
| devices the currents going in one direction are
! separated from those proceeding in the other,
| and the machine is then continuous-current
| dynamo" Where this operation is not effected
] the machine is an "alternatOr that is, it de-