Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-15

as that with which we are dealing, Is one
quarter of the earths density. In that case
the total gravitation of the planet would ne
only 100000 times greater than the earths.
and the weight of bodies on it's surface would
be reduced to twenty-five times their weight
here But even then the pressure of its at.
mosphere, supposed to be relatively of the
same extent as the earth's atmosphere would
be 375 pounds to the square inch-which is
much higher pressure than any careful en-,
gineer would dare to put into the best steam
boiler cubic yard of that air removed to
the earth's surface and allowed suddenly to
expand would blow building to pieces like
an explosion of dynamite
But we have not yet touched upon all the
curious consequences resulting from the great
size OF the mysterious planet near Algol
Assuming that its mean density is one ouar
ter that of the earth, and that consequently
bodies upon its surface weigh TWENTY-FIVE
times as much as the same bodies do here
we may reasonably conclude that it's inhabl
tants, instead of being giants proportioned to
the great size of their world must rather he
dwarfs, only foot or two in height This
conclusion results from the consideration
that, If they were as large as the inhabitants
of the earth they would be unable to stand
up under their immense weight II would
crush them down. On such planet an aver.
age man would weigh $3.50 pounds This
differs from our former estimate of tx O0O
pounds, or tx tons, because we now assume
mat the density of the planet is but quarter
OF the earth's instead of being equal to IT'D.
But could man of that weight possh1v
stand upright? Apparently the only wav IN
which locomotion would be possible to the in.
habltants of such world would be nv max.
ing them SO small that their weight would
De reduced to a point where bones and mus
cles could easily support It, This could ha
accomplished by making the stature of A man
SDout ~ inches man of that height ON a
planet having lat its surface) twentv.fve
times the gravitative force of the earth would
weigh about as much as six-footer on the
90 and no more A ful[grown elephant,
IN order to be comfortable would have m
shrink to height Of about four feet mr. he
fattened out like founder and move ahont
in that shape
we nave spoken Of but one of these great
poules' that which accompanies Algol. but in
TACT many others are known There Is CON.
siderable number of stars which b.vo 80 -
oark companions that may be regarded 90
giant planets We become aware of tbeir
existence by the effects Of their attraction
upon the stars 1t is even possible in snch
cases, to calculate the relative size ana ~,o,.h.
of these invisible bodies The " ~ "eisnt
Algol Is, as we have said, about $40 O00 milo.
IN diameter while Algol itself has a diorotoo
oI ABOUT ll2o,OO0 miles. They reyolve rovrd
lnelI common center of gravity in the ev.
oeeulhSy brlef period of sixty hours ana
tney are only $4,000 miles apart from, oan
ter to center Ai0n cen
bqt this is not all There is at least one
OF these giant planetary bodies which 10 oct'
eany larger, or more massive, than its own
sun-reVerslng the ordinary rule with 80
geance 1t is the great body wbicb =; a ven
neGted with the bright star Castor in the co on
stellaton of the Twins ~ Tue con-
me arrival of huge dark body. or STRANGER
planet; in our system. whether it resulted IN
avi toinsion WIN the sun or not, would in.
T TTioapy t upset the present planetary system.
l ne earth and the other planets wonId w.
sWlrled from their orbits; the existing nrder'
~ arrangement would be broken IN: ~ +ba
intruder approached close to the sun the i Lno
s5riv wIgu burst out with redoubed energies
ITS planets like moths in fame. snS .S VI
Litherto peaceful worlds, driving w,,S dI
nltner and thither, might destroy one ~,
other in fiery collisions. OHe an