On some Dynamical Conditions applicable to Le Sage's Theory of Gravitation

Оглавление

Samuel Tolver Preston. On some Dynamical Conditions applicable to Le Sage's Theory of Gravitation

On some Dynamical Conditions applicable to Le Sage's Theory of Gravitation

Table of Contents

On some Dynamical Conditions applicable to Le Sage's Theory of Gravitation, No. II

Application of the Kinetic Theory of Gases to Gravitation, No. III

The Bearing of the Kinetic Theory of Gravitation on the Phenomena of "Cohesion" and "Chemical Action," together with the important connected Inferences regarding the existence of Stores of Motion in Space, No. IV

Отрывок из книги

Samuel Tolver Preston

Published by Good Press, 2020

.....

6. It forms a truly wonderful fact to consider, that a system of bodies or particles left to themselves, with nothing to guide them but their own collisions (which might well be regarded as fulfilling all the essentials of a chaos), produces and maintains the most rigid system of order, such that the number of particles contained in unit volume of the system (taken anywhere) is equal, the mean velocity equal in all parts, the mean distance of the particles the same in all parts, and the particles are moving uniformly towards all directions in all parts. 8uch is the result produced by pure dynamics. In fact it may be said that leaving the bodies to themselves constitutes the most perfect system of control, for any interference whatever would disturb the regularity of the motions. This regularity of movement is not only naturally continued, but forcibly and automatically maintained against any disturbance—such that if it were imagined that a system of bodies were purposely put in motion in the most chaotic manner possible, the motion would of itself in a short time become regular, or the whole would become a system of order and uniformity.

7. Clausius, as is known, has investigated a relation between the mean length of path of the particles of a gas and the diameter of the particles. From this investigation it follows that the mean length of path of the particle of a gas (i.e. the average distance which the particle moves before encountering another particle) increases in proportion as the square of the diameter of the particle diminishes. Thus by making the particle small enough, its mean length of path may be increased to any extent. No objection, evidently, can be made to this, for à priori one size of particle is just as likely as another. This minute size would render it possible for the particle to possess a high velocity without producing thereby disturbance or displacement among the molecules of ordinary matter ; and this high velocity is necessary to accord with the observed facts of gravity. One velocity cannot be said à priori to be more likely than another. We must just be guided by the teaching of facts as to what the velocity is.[1]

.....