432 Prof. Booth on the Rotation 



45. When either electric ocean is minus, the other must 

 be plus, and at the same time any intermediate stratum of the 

 atmosphere inclosing a stratum of clouds must be charged 

 by induction. 



46. Between the concentric strata of air, severally bound- 

 ing the celestial and terrestrial ocean, there must be an elec- 

 trical attraction tending to counteract gravitation, and thus to 

 influence the density and pressure of the lower stratum of the 

 atmosphere. 



47. The proximities of a stratum of clouds electrified by 

 the celestial ocean, must cause an accumulation of electricity 

 in any portion of the terrestrial surface immediately subja- 

 cent; and by counteracting gravitation cause a local diminu- 

 tion of atmospheric pressure, which it is well known is a pre- 

 cursor, and probably a cause of wind and rain. 



48. Those common discharges of electricity which take 

 place during hurricanes, may be easily accounted for by sup- 

 posing that they result from discharges between the celestial 

 and terrestrial electric oceans. 



49. Thunder-clouds may owe their charges to the celestial 

 ocean, either by induction or conduction. Auroras may be 

 the consequence of discharges from one part of the atmo- 

 sphere to another, through the rare conducting medium which 

 is occupied by the celestial ocean ; or they may result from 

 discharges from other planets or seas, or from any part of 

 space, however remote. Since, agreeably to Wheatstone's ex- 

 periments, electricity flies with a velocity not less than that 

 of light, space can create no obstacle to its passage. 



LXIV. On the Rotation of a rigid Body round affixed Point. 

 By James Booth, Esq., M.A., Principal of, and Professor 

 qf Mathematics in Bristol College*. 



I. ri^HE problem of the rotation of a rigid body round a 

 A fixed point, acted on by no forces, or round its centre 

 of gravity influenced by the force of gravity alone, has been 

 analytically solved by Lagrange, at least so far as to indicate 

 the leading properties of such motion, and to reduce its deter- 

 mination to the calculation of two elliptic functions, one of the 

 first, the other of the third order ; but these analytical formulae, 

 as has been justly remarked, do not give us any clear idea of 

 the motion during the period of rotation ; they enable us to 

 determine the position of the body at the end of a given time, 

 but do not at all assist our conceptions in following the mo- 

 tion of the body during its rotation. 



« Communicated by the Author. 



