Publisher's Synopsis
Book Excerpt: a] into [beta], of [beta] into [gamma]. If we should consider the amount of transfer motion instead of the kind of motion, we should have to say that the [alpha] energy had been transformed into [beta] and the [beta] into [gamma].[Illustration: FIG. 1.][Illustration: FIG. 2.]What a given amount of energy will do depends only upon its form, that is, the kind of motion that embodies it.The energy spent upon a stone thrown into the air, giving it translatory motion, would, if spent upon a tuning fork, make it sound, but not move it from its place; while if spent upon a top, would enable the latter to stand upon its point as easily as a person stands on his two feet, and to do other surprising things, which otherwise it could not do. One can, without difficulty, form a mechanical conception of the whole series without assuming imponderables, or fluids or forces. Mechanical motion only, by pressure, has been transferred in certain directions at certain rates. Suppose now thRead More
