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A New Theory, Accounting for the Dip of the Magnetic Needle
A New Theory Accounting for the Dip of the Magnetic Needle Author:James Barlow Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3ABSOLUTE VOLUME—The existing quantity of caloric in any given bulk of atmospheric air, (or other body,) as compared with that of any other equal bulk of a different thermometric temperatur... more »e; also, the existing quantity of caloric in any bulk of matter, as compared with that of an equal bulk of matter of a different nature, whether of the same or different thermoirietric temperatures. Thus, the absolute volume of moisture of the crystals of one salt differs from tha: of the crystals of another kind; and that of the same crystal varies with the different states of the atmosphere. The absolute volume of caloric is analogous to the specific gravity of gases, fluids, and other bodies:, it is synonymous with temperature, wherefore, the numeral expressing the temperature is also the numeral expressing the absolute volume; yet this holds good only on comparing the temperatures of any given medium, and not in comparing similar or dissimilar temperatures, in two different media. HEAT—The relative effects of the greater of two or more absolute volumes of caloric, when tested in the same manner. COLD—The relative effects of the smaller of two or more absolute volumes of caloric, when tested in the same manner. Heat and cold exist in fact only in relation to each other, and signify merely different absolute volumes of caloric, in .equal bulks, of the same or of different substances, under the same circumstances. They are absolutely convertible terms. Often, when the thermometer indicates a temperature of 52°, we exclaim "How mild! how comfortable !" Let this temperature be accompanied with a drizzling rain, " How chilly it is to day!" If it rises suddenly from freezing to this temperature, we exclaim " How warm!" And if it should descend suddenly from 90° to this temperature," How cold!" How often, also, ...« less