An Historical and Philosophical Account of the Barometer, or Weather-Glass; Wherein the Reason and Use of That Instrument, the Theory of the Atmosphere, the Causes of Its Different Gravitation Are Assign'd and Explain'd. and a Modest Attempt from Thence M (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1730. Excerpt: ... (2) unacceptable to many Persons, who daily fee the Effects and: are aojsightly apprized of the Cause, toe.xjptaiQt&e Nature, and RafoQfit. Mx Mign t.lrefore in these Papers, ' not to write for Ea ertai - n, t o Pbi-. losophers or oi $v?se Gentlemen who by the Advantage of a. teamed Educations Qc of a Course of Experiments, have had better Opportunities of improving themselves in Speculations of this Nature: But for the Satisfaction of many of my inquisitive Countrymen; who having given themselves and their Parlors an Air of Philosophy, by the Purchase of a Barometer, may be willing to know the Meaning of it, and desirous of exerting now and then a superiority of Understanding, by talking clearly and intelligibly upon it. Th E Design and Use of this Instrument, is to shew the various Changes in the Weight or Pressure of the Air, and those of the Weather depending upon it. The Air, in former Ages, was generally held to be a Body specifically Light, or by its own inherent Spring and Activity, rising naturally, and mounting upwards: But the Philosophers of the last Century, by various Experiments have discover'd and demonstrated it in reality to be a heavy elastic Fluid; heavy, because its upper Parts press upon the lower, and those again upon others bilow them, with a progressive Weight, down down to the Surface of the Earth; and elastic, or springy, because the Particles of the Air, like Wool, are capable of Contraction and Dilatation capable of being compress'd within a narrower Compass by any incumbent Weights, and of restoring and expanding themselves again, upon the Abatement, or Removal of it A N D as these two Properties the Weight and Spring of the Air, have a mutual Connection and Dependance upon each other, and contri...