Lectures on Some Recent Advances in Physical Science - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1876. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... LECTURE XII. STRUCTURE OF MATTER. Limits of Divisibility of Matter. In physics the terms great and small are merely relative. Various hypotheses as to structure of bodies--Hard Atom--Centres of Force--Continuous but Heterogeneous Structure-- Vortex-atoms--[Digression on Vortex-Motion.] Lesage's Ultramundane Corpuscles. Proofs that matter has a grained structure. Approximation to its dimensions from the Dispersion of Light :--from the phenomena of Contact Electricity. As I promised in my last lecture, I intend to take up to-day the consideration of recent results as to the ultimate nature and constitution of matter. This is a problem which has exercised the intellects of philosophers from the very oldest times. I have no doubt you are all acquainted with some of the speculations which, whether their own or not, Lucretius and others have given forth upon the subject. These, in many cases, possess even now some interest; but in comparatively modern times such inquiries have usually led to what may rather be called metaphysical than physical disquisitions. It became, in fact, the question of ' Yes' or 'No' for infinite ultimate divisibility of matter. Now that is a problem which, however simple it may appear to the metaphysicians, is at present quite as far from us physicists as it was in the time of Lucretius. We have made certain steps towards the knowledge of the nature of particles or molecules of matter; but as to the question of atoms,--that is to say, whether in going on dividing and dividing, if we could carry the process far enough, we should finally arrive at portions of matter which are incapable of further division, --that is a question, I say, whose solution seems to recede from our grasp as fast, at least, as we attempt to approach it. There i...