ANNALS 



OF 



PHILOSOPHY. 



AUGUST, 1825. 



Article I. 



Neii; Experiments on Sound. By Mr. C. Wheatstone. 



(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



On the Phonic Molecular Vibrations. 

 SIR, 



Before I enter on the immediate subject of this article, it 

 may be necessary to exhibit a general view of those bodies, 

 which, being properly excited, make those sensible oscillations, 

 which have been thought to be the proximate causes of all th6 

 phenomena of sound. These bodies, to avoid many circumlocu* 

 tions otherwise inevitable, 1 have termed Phonics. 



Linear Phonics. 



Longitudinal, 

 Making their oscillations in the 



direction of their axis. 

 1. Columns of aeriform fluids 



or liquids : cyHndric and 



prismatic rods. 



Transversa/, 



Making tlieir oscillations at 



right angles to their axis. 



1. Capable of tension, or varia- 

 ble rigidity : chords, or 

 wires. 



2. Permanently rigid : rods, 

 forks, rings, Sic. 



Superficial Phonics. 



1. Capable of tension : extended membranes. 



2. Permanently rigid : laminae, bells, vases, &c. 



Solid Phonics. 



1. Volumes of aeriform fluids, 

 New Series, vol. vi. p 



