Chase.] ^OD [Oct. 6, 



nebulous region of the zodiacal light with a corresponding vis v'xca. Subsi- 

 dence from Laplace's solar limit (ISTotes 268, 274), would give a vis viva 

 which is more than 10000 times as great, in their passage through the 

 solar atmosphere. These facts should be carefully considered in any in- 

 vestigatioas which are suggested by the hypothesis of Dr. Siemens. The 

 explosive velocity being acquired long before the subsiding matter reaches 

 Sun's surface, the compounded and condensed particles continue sunward 

 into the region of dissociation and centrifugal projection. No sufficient 

 reason has yet been given, for doubting the adequacy of the fundamental 

 time-integral (Notes 280-1) to keep up this circulation indefinitely. Im- 

 portant harmonic analogies are suggested by Neptune's projectile orbital 

 velocity at secular perihelion, and by Jupiter's mean locus of subsidence. 

 According to Stockwell's estimates of the planetary elements, Neptune's 

 secular perihelion velocity is 3.42 miles per second and Jupiter's mean 

 aphelion is 5.4274 p^ ; the mean proportional between Earth's semi-axis 

 major and Neptune's secular perihelion being 5.4404 p^ 



299. Alternations of Energy. 



All the ordinary assumptions of dissipation of energy take it for granted 

 that the universal tether is able to absorb heat indefinitely, without im- 

 parting it again to more condensed matter. If this were the case, why 

 should not the heat be absorbed in its passage from star to star? Judging 

 from atmospheric analogies, we may infer the existence of aethereal con- 

 vection currents and a greater manifestation of heat with increasing 

 density. If gethereal density varies with pressure, as I have supposed in 

 Notes 35, 236-240, etc., the kinetic theory ot gases would imply a con- 

 stant mean molecular velocity. The tangential character of luminous un- 

 dulations implies a polarity which would tend to the formation of aethereal 

 spheroids about stellar centres, and if those centres have an orbital motion 

 which is combined with an axial rotation of their respective orbs, the con- 

 tinual changes of relative position w^ould favor a transfer of energy from 

 star to star which, with reflection and refraction (Note 286), might main- 

 tain perpetual tendencies to an equilibrium which would never be reached. 

 It seems not unlikely that the thermal relations of every star to its aethe- 

 real spheroid may be so adjusted that there is a transfer of heat from the 

 aether to the nucleus during one-half of each rotation, and from the 

 nucleus to the asther during the other half. Such a hypothesis lends a 

 meaning to the fundamental kinetic identity (Note 280), which is in 

 thorough accordance with Laplace's belief in the stability of the solar sys 

 tem. • 



300. Actions and Reactions in Moving Radiations. 



Prof. H. T. Eddy {Sci. Froc. of the Ohio Mecli. Inst., July, ISSS) de- 

 scribes a method for the distribution of heat in a way which conflicts 

 with the second law of thermodynamics. lie objects to the so-called ax- 

 ioms of Clausius and Thomson, on the grounji of their implicit assumption 



