Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-24
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
lcontinued from page 81

tContlnued from page 81
three different forms, viz. light,
heat and electricity. lam disposed to
accept the latest scientific theory that
light, heat and electricity are differ
emit modes OF motion, or varied forms
of manifestation of solar energy, trans
mitted to the earth through the ether
of space.
Prof. Trowbridge of Harvard Col
lege, in his recent work on electric
ity, says =" MaNwell's theory that
light and heat are phenomena of cleo
tro-magnetic waves which come to us
from the sun is now the greatest gen
eralization in physical science. Ac-
cording to the electromagnetic theory
of light, the only difference between
heat, light and electricity is in the
length of waves in the ether of
space.
This is certainly rational hypothe.
sis, affording a ready solution OF
many of the hard problems of former
days. The sun is great central dy-
namo, whence waves of electro mag
netic energy flow continually through
the medium of the ether of space, to
warm, Hume and vivify the various
bodies of the solar system.
We find nothing satisfactory in the
theory that light and heat emanating
from the sun are the products of com
bustion of new material, or result
from the shrinking of that body upon
itself. Either hypothesis implies
waste of natures forces, and the final
heat and life in the solar system.
nj kI,ak So not sound ,,1,i1oconhr
On the other hand, the up-to-date
accepted by many of the ablest scien-
fists, gives no hint Of wasting energies
or the final extinction of solar heat
and life, and confirms our faith in the
infinite and inexhaustible resources
OF the universe. The sun is not burn
ing itself out, nor shrinking into Gin
ders in the process of lighting and
warming the earth and planets; but
that vast orb is as brilliant, glowing
and radiant with life-giving energy
as it was in the dawn of creation
when "the morning stars sang to-
gether.'
And now it is not difficult to under
stand that the tremendous energy Of
the sun, manifested in the forms Of
light, heat and electricity, is the most
powerful factor in the generation an6
Y propulsion Of storms.
The solar heat is powerful almost
beyond belief. ,Accordingto the esti,
mates of Herschell, and the other emf.
nent authorities, the heat sent yearly
by the sun to the earth would bt
sufficient to melt layer of ice spread
over the earth one hundred feet thick
This heat is physical constant, o.
i unvarying quantity. 1t quickens ant
imparts energy and motion to ever.
form of living creature upon tn,
earth. And it is by solar energy tina
the earth revolyes upon its axis
swings in its orbit around the sun
causing day and night, the order O.
the seasons, the movement of the ele
ment,s evaporation and precipitation
storms and Gains, seed time and har
vests. In fact, all the varied phenom
ena of life witnessed upon this plane
are the products of the solar energ,
acting upon matter, which woult
otherwise be cold, inert and lifeless
The fact is we'll understood that tn
direct effect of solar heat is to caus
expansion and motion of the molecule
in all forms of matter. solids, liquid
and fluids or gases. This action upol
fluid bodies is especially marked ant
powerful.
n The air is heated by radiation from
the earth's surface, and this cause
expansion and motion in the lowe
part of the atmosphere. And becaus,
OF inequalities of the earth's surface
with continents and oceans, plains
valleys and mountains, there is grea
variability in the action of the ele
ments.
The earth possesses great radiatinI
power, while the oceans absorb mucl
larger quantities of solar heat. An,
SO there is varying contraction ant
expansion, and consequent high ant
low pressure of the atmosphere.
Storms result from heat, or solar en-
,ergy, acting through the expansive
properties of air and vapor. The NOV
ing and propelling forces come from
the sun, but this could produce n
effect but for the properties of tn
matter acted upon.
And this brings US to consider tn
nature of the elements that are tn
active earthly agents in the produc
ton of storms.
The atmosphere envelopes the cart
with layer of unknown thickness
estimated from one to two hundre
miles. In its dry state it is compose
principally of two gases, viz:-oxy
gen, about 81 parts, and nitrogen
parts But the air is never entirel
dry and is always found to contain tn
ed in varying quantities. There ar
also measurable quantities of ammo
MIA, ozone. sulphurous and nitric acid
nearly always present in the atmos
phere.
The atmosphere is very elastic an
compressible, expanding greatly unde
the influence of heat, and contractinf
from the effects of cold.
But it is also ponderous substance
having the properties of density an
weight, being subject to the law @
gravity. The normal weight or press
ure OF the air at sea level is about
pounds to the square inch of surface
On a square yard the pressure amount
torover So tons; and the weight rest
ing upon the entire earth reaches enor
nous proportion when expressed il
figures.
This pressure, it will be seen, is on
Of the most important properties %
the atmosphere, very closely relate
to the phenomena of storms
The most important instrument EN-
ployed in the scientific observation O
the weather, especially with the view
of making forecasts of approachin,
storms, is the barometer. And this
as you all understand, is the instru
ment used in weighing the at1nos
phere. 1t serves purely mechanical
purpose, like pair of scales, and i
must be as carefully adjusted as ar,
the balances used in compoundin,
medicines, or weighing the preciou
+ metals.
The principle of the barometer wa
discovered by Torricelli in 1868, ant
WAS the result of an attempt to &C
count for the fact that water coult
not be lifted more than 80 feet in til,
pipe of common sucking pump
Torricelli discovered by experiment
that the weight of the atmospher,
forms the counterpoise or balance of
column of water about feet high
In his experiments he substituted mer
curry for water, being about IA time.
heavier, and found that column O,
mercury in the vacuum of tube,