Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-11-09
[0BEs IN NATURE
:, oaindrops and the Planets
: and Suns Are Round.
; eoRcEs OF ATTRACTION.

Gathers In . Circle Around
".;.,, Of interest, So Molecular
Y c,.vitational Impulses In Mat
= As. Toward a Center
roin forms into spherical
shI ~ the same reason that the
NJ -, ~ become a globe-namely,
gu l that is the shape in which the
eaus forces of attraction attain a
lefn4 In the case Of very large
a p. body like the earth 1t Is
.+roction of gravitation that con-
a .hs form, but in that of a small
~. a raindrop it is the molecular
.... +n Of the infinitesimal particles.
r ra intensity of molecular attraction
wv !. the force that holds the COM
Ds nts Of bodies together, is far great
.san that of the attraction of gravi-
faon. but it is exercised over com
Stvaly Insignificant distance. In
- case however, the resultant of all
attractions between the individual.
~, "a a force directed toward the
buter of mass.
[pnt by the principle of inertia time Is
Uors required for any force or COM
,..tion of forces to set matter In mo-
= The larger the volume of matter
{saornad the longer will be the time
Isoded for the internal forces to group
4 the particles symmetricaily around
nj, common center of mass.
/ Il is upon this principle that the old
ksbioned shot towers are operated.
Iolten lead is dropped from a great
6pyation after passing through sieve
| facilitate its separation into small
nssses and during their downward
spbt these masses are rounded into
Itle spheres by the mutual attraction
\ their molecules. which group them
Dives around a common center.
With very large bodies not broken up
Ito small portions the gravitational
bre plays the principal part in shap-
hg them. because gravitation is effec-
I've at great distances and throughout
last masses, while cohesion, or molecu-
trattraction. is extremely limited with
kgard to the space over which it acts.
Each molecule attracts a little group
n other molecules close around 1t, and
|hese In turn attract their immediate
beighbors. Within the space occupied
b. raindrop the molecular attraction
3 the master force and quickly shapes
Die mass into a sphere.
And just as a spoonful of water
brown from high tower will descend
b the form of one or more round drops
bwing to the resultant pull of all it's
molecules toward a common center Sc
Fhe entire ocean if it were flung out
IntO open space would become a gigan.
pc ball of water rounded into that
Fhape by the gravitational attraction
pcting throughout its whole mass.
1t Is by no accident that all the
planets are spherical They have
Faken that shape as inevitably as a
pose stone rolls down a steep hill
phelr forms are not perfect spheres
because they have been subjected tc
outside disturbing forces, such as thu
centrifugal effects Of their rotation or
lner axes and the reformation pro
Quced BY the attraction Of other planets
ana OF the sun. Even the heads OF
comets are spheroidal. although they
sfe believed to consist of swarms Of
small bodies like meteors.
Inls tendency of masses. whose com
penent parts or particles are free tt
move among one another. to assume {
siOOuiar outline. is curiously illustrated
wen oy crowds or swarms Of sentien
usings' Thus swarm Of bees wher
= gamers close becomes spherical O
spneroldal, since that form Is bes
salled to inclose the greatest numbe
Of Individuals.
a human crowd certainly would tax,
spherical form If its members wer
. :. 70 choose their positions as freel,
y y up and down as in horizontal space
s ing connned to one level. they al
:. .anse themselves in a circle. which /
&C section of sphere. p
'sf'iSs In New York Journal