Physical and Metaphysical Works; Including the Advancement of Learning and Novum Organum - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1901. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... observed in quicksilver, which is not improperly called mineral water, and wnich, without any inflammation, nearly equals the force of gunpowder by simple explosion and expansion, and ia said, w hen mixed with gunpowder, to increase its force. Again, let the required nature be the transitory nature of flame and its momentaneous extinction; for to us the nature of flame does not appear to be fixed or settled, but to be generated from moment to moment, and to be every instant extinguished; it being clear that those flames which continue and last, do not owe their continuance to the same mass of flame, but to a continued succession of new flame regularly generated, and that the same identical flame does not continue. This is easily shown bj' removing the food or source of the flame, when it at once goes out. We have the two following cross-ways with regard to this nature: --This momentary nature either arises from the cessation of the cause which first produced it, as in light, sounds, and violent motions, as they are termed, or flame may be capable, by its own nature, of duration, but is subjected to some violence from the contrary natures which surround it, and is destroyed. We may therefore adopt the following instance of the cross. We see to what a height the flames rise m great conflagrations; far as the base of the flame becomes more extensive, its vertex is more lofty. It appears, then, that the commencement of the extinction takes place at the sides, where the flame is compressed by the air, and is ill at ease; but the centre of the flame, which is untouched by the air and surrounded by flame, continues the same, and is not extinguished until compressed by degrees by the air attacking it from the sides. All flame, therefore, is pyramidal, having its base ne...