478 Reply to Mr. Barlow's Article on Floating Bodies, 



less, the same as beams floating in running water may be 

 retarded by encountering irregular or slower motions in 

 wafer. 



Mr. B. illustrates his opinion by supposing a beam of 

 timber loaded at one end, placed in running water, and 

 inov'mg parallel to itself, or, in other words, having an equal 

 velocity at both ends. But this is absolutely impossible in 

 the nature or' things. The beam thus loaded cannot preserve 

 its parallelism for an instant. It must obey the laws of gra- 

 vity, and instantaneously begin to change its situation, the 

 heavy end getting foremost. It would be just as impossible 

 that such a loaded beam could preserve its parallelism, as 

 that a ruler loaded at one end, and placed parallel on an in- 

 clined plane, should rest in that position, or that a cone 

 should keep in such a situation without force. — Mr. B. says 

 again, M if a beam should meet any resistance, that end 

 which is heaviest will oppose it with the greatest effect." 

 Certainly, because it contains the greatest quantity of mat- 

 ter : But will not the heavier end always go foremost with- 

 out any resistance ? In considering this subject, allowance 

 must be made for currents, eddies, &c. ; but to understand 

 it the more clearly, it would be best to consider the floating 

 bodies as passing down a regular stream. 



Mr. B. seems to me to confound weight, which is only 

 the result of gravity, and of a greater quantity of matter, 

 with gravity itself; for though one end of a beam be heavier 

 than the other, and the beam consequently will float with 

 the heavier end foremost, yet the inherent and inseparable 

 property of gravity is the same in both ends of the beam. 

 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



G. Our. 



P. S. I do conceive that all bodies floating with the stream, 

 and which have a heavy and light end, will become depressed 

 at their heavier end, and be borne parallel to the plane on 

 which the water moves, — in all such cases adapting them- 

 selves to the inclination of the plane or bed on which the 

 water runs. 



LXXXV. The 



