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Article ON THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF AIR. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Nature And Properties Of Air.
ON THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF AIR .
Ir ^ HE Air is that invisible fluid substance which surrounds the |_ earth ; which contains the vapors , clouds , and other metec ' rs , and by which all living creatures breathe ; the body and shell of which is called the atmosphere . The nature , properties , and various affections of the air are reducible to the following heads : i . The air is a fluid , though it cannot be congealed like water ; it is corporealheavy ; it ' s parts yield to any impressionand are
, , easily moved one amongst another ; it presseth in proportion to it ' s hei ght , and the pressure is every way equal . 2 . It is transparent to that degree , as to be even invisible . On account of it ' s great porosity , the air admits the li ght in such great and plentiful rays , as not only renders it diaphanous , but intirely hinders it ' s very small particles from being seen .
j . It may be rarifled and condensed . The rarifaction of it may be demonstrated : by laying a bladder to the fire , it ' s neck being tied , the heat will so rarify the little inclosed air , as to make the bladder distend itself in such a manner , that if continued , it would burst with the report of a gun . The air may be so condensed , as to take up but : a sixtieth part of the , space it possessed before .
Heat rarities ; and cold condenses the air , more than any agents whatsoever . 4 . Itis endued with an elastic force , asmaybe proved by various experiments made by the air-pump . I shall mention one that is very plain . A bladder , having it ' s neck fast tied , being put into the receiverand the external air therein exhaustedthe small
, , matter of the internal air will , through it ' s own proper spring or elasticity , so distend the bladder as to burst it . 5 . It has weight or gravity , and greater , as it is nearer to tho earth's surface . By the pressure of the air , the water rises in the pump , and the mercury in the barometer .
The body of a man of six feet stature is pressed by a weio-bt of air equal to 28000 pounds , or twelve tons and an half ; and though it may seem wonderful that men , beasts , & c . are not crushed to pieces with such a weight of air ; yet the equilibrium of the internal air , though it be very small , can ballance the force of the external air , how great a . quantity soever it be , as may be proved by the experiments made by the air-pump . Here I shallby the sav
, way , something ofthe height of the atsmophere . It is certain , that the higher the air is , the rarer it is ; but , as it is not to be determined in what proportion it becomes rarer and rarer , so there can be no true , account of it ' s height given ; yet most agree that it is about
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Nature And Properties Of Air.
ON THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF AIR .
Ir ^ HE Air is that invisible fluid substance which surrounds the |_ earth ; which contains the vapors , clouds , and other metec ' rs , and by which all living creatures breathe ; the body and shell of which is called the atmosphere . The nature , properties , and various affections of the air are reducible to the following heads : i . The air is a fluid , though it cannot be congealed like water ; it is corporealheavy ; it ' s parts yield to any impressionand are
, , easily moved one amongst another ; it presseth in proportion to it ' s hei ght , and the pressure is every way equal . 2 . It is transparent to that degree , as to be even invisible . On account of it ' s great porosity , the air admits the li ght in such great and plentiful rays , as not only renders it diaphanous , but intirely hinders it ' s very small particles from being seen .
j . It may be rarifled and condensed . The rarifaction of it may be demonstrated : by laying a bladder to the fire , it ' s neck being tied , the heat will so rarify the little inclosed air , as to make the bladder distend itself in such a manner , that if continued , it would burst with the report of a gun . The air may be so condensed , as to take up but : a sixtieth part of the , space it possessed before .
Heat rarities ; and cold condenses the air , more than any agents whatsoever . 4 . Itis endued with an elastic force , asmaybe proved by various experiments made by the air-pump . I shall mention one that is very plain . A bladder , having it ' s neck fast tied , being put into the receiverand the external air therein exhaustedthe small
, , matter of the internal air will , through it ' s own proper spring or elasticity , so distend the bladder as to burst it . 5 . It has weight or gravity , and greater , as it is nearer to tho earth's surface . By the pressure of the air , the water rises in the pump , and the mercury in the barometer .
The body of a man of six feet stature is pressed by a weio-bt of air equal to 28000 pounds , or twelve tons and an half ; and though it may seem wonderful that men , beasts , & c . are not crushed to pieces with such a weight of air ; yet the equilibrium of the internal air , though it be very small , can ballance the force of the external air , how great a . quantity soever it be , as may be proved by the experiments made by the air-pump . Here I shallby the sav
, way , something ofthe height of the atsmophere . It is certain , that the higher the air is , the rarer it is ; but , as it is not to be determined in what proportion it becomes rarer and rarer , so there can be no true , account of it ' s height given ; yet most agree that it is about