A New System of Meteorology, Designed for Schools and Private Students Volume 1; Descriptive and Explanatory of All the Facts, and Demonstrative of All the Causes and Laws of Atmospheric Phenomena (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. 1878 Excerpt: ... 31 South Pole to the Equator and return. describe simply the figure 8. It is an interesting, and, if accidental, a curious fact, that in Mathematics, the figure S is the sign of infinity, and in Philosophy, the symbol of endless continuity. Did those who independently adopted this symbol, receive the expressive suggestion from Physical motion? If so, thou these movements must have been known to them. On the ancient pottery found in Missouri--supposed to be that of the Moundbuilders--this same figure is found painted in parallel lines, as represented by Fgure 2. It is likewise a significant fact that the nervous system in animals, and the circulation of the blood describe the same figure. A still more significant fact is that the movements of the protoplasm--now sometimes called bioplasm--in both the vegetable and animal cell, describe the same figure. Let figure 3 represent a living cell, and the line C the csytoblast that divides the cell into two compartments. The cell is filled with a translucent viscid substance called proto plasm, or by some biologists, bioplasm. Suppose that above the cytoblast, the movements of the protoplasm be direct as shown by the arrows--then below the cytoblast the movements will be retrograde. The combined movement is perceived to be the figure 8. The key that unlocks the mystery of all these movements is electric and magnetic. Let A, figure 4, represent the rear of an electric current circulating through a wire bent in a circle; and B the front of the same current. If this current were visible and viewed from the front, the forward motion would appear to be direct; when this same current were viewed from the rear--then the forward motion would appear to be retrograde. If a short piece of iron or steel is placed in the centre ..