Chase.J oOb [jan 5 and Feb. 2, 



Ihougli tlicrc may be some doubt as to the degroe of certainty which be- 

 longs to the recent hypotlieses of internal gaseous structure, there can be 

 none as to the graphic representation of orbital activities under forces varying 

 inversely as the square of the distance. Circular orbits denote constancy 

 of relations between radial and tangential forces; ellii)tic orbits, variability 

 of relations accompanied by cyclical oscillations ; parabolic orbits, varia- 

 bility of relations without cyclical oscillation ; hyperbolic orbits, variability 

 of relations complicated by the action of extraneous force. 



In a rotating mass, the orbits of the several particles are circular. If 

 the uniform velocity of any particle in the equatorial plane is less than 

 V fr ,the mean action of the central force is impeded by internal collisions 

 or resistances. If the velocities of all the particles in the plane vary pre- 

 cisely as / fr, there is a condition of perfect fluidity, marking a limit 

 l)etween complete aggregation and incipient dissociation. Any cjxlic va- 

 riations of velocity between constant limits indicate elliptic orbits, with ten- 

 dencies to aggregation through collisions near the perifocal apse. A perifo- 

 cal velocity of V 2fr marks a parabolic orbit, and a limit between com- 

 plete dissociation and incipient association. A velocity greater than V^ 2 fr 

 is hyperbolic, indicating the intervention of a third force in addition to the 

 mutual action between the two principal centres of reference. 



If all physical forces are propagated by sethereal undulations between re- 

 sisting points, those points tend naturally to nodal, and from internodal 

 l)Ositious. In order to maintain uniformity in the wave velocity, the ftthe- 

 real molecules must be uniform, not only in volume, but also in aggregate 

 inertia. As the inertia of the resisting points increases, the inertia due to 

 internal a-thereal motions, should, therefore, diminish, and vice versa. In 

 other words, the uniform elementary volume may be represented by the 

 product of atomic weight by specific heat, and the laws of Boylo (or Mari- 

 otte), Charles, and Avogadro, follow as simple and necessary corollaries. 



In order that uniform undulations should produce motion, there must be 

 at least two points of resistance. Those points would approach each other 

 until the interior undulating resistance equaled the exterior undulatory 

 pressures, when their motion would be converted into rotation or into 

 orbital revolution. Their common centre of revolution might become the 

 centre of a new elementary V()lume, thus giving rise to the various laws of 

 combination by volume, combination without condensation, condensation 

 of two volumes into one, three volumes into two, or four volumes into two, 

 as well as to general artiad and perissad quantivalence. 



When i)eri focal collisions change parabolic or elliptic into circular or- 

 bits, there should be increasing density towards the principal centre of the 

 system. Further collisions and condensations would produce tendencies 

 to both nucleal and atmospheric* aggregations, and consequent binary group- 

 ings. These laws are exemplified in the solar sj'stem, by the general divis- 

 ion into an intra asteroidal and an extra-asteroidal belt, andby the subdivis- 



•^n/e, xlv, 622,Bqq. 



