GEOLOGY. 417 



say a bowlder, and computing the shrinkage that would follow the 

 removal of its 288*^ ± of absolute temperature, i. e., about 0.0057 

 linear, and by estimating, as well as present data permit, the energy 

 involved in the constitution of its atoms, molecules, and crystals, 

 or other forms of aggregation, and then comparing the two. The pro- 

 digious velocities at which the constituents of disintegrating atoms are 

 shot forth leave little room for doubt that the subatomic energies rise 

 to a very high order. Nor does there seem any ground for serious 

 doubt that the motions from which these spring are revolutional. 

 The definite periodicity of the alpha and beta discharges is cogent evi- 

 dence that the motions of the protons and electrons of the parent 

 atom are systematically organized to an extraordinary degree. On less 

 firm, but yet very cogent, grounds it is assumed that the organization 

 of the atoms into molecules and of the molecules into crystals or 

 other solid aggregates is affected by the polarities and the fields of force 

 that spring from the revolutions of the charged constituents of the 

 atoms. While such general interpretations are certainly inadequate 

 to cover the whole truth, there is reason to think that they are valid 

 to the extent that the distinctive qualities of molecules and crystals 

 are assignable to an organization of the orbital type rather than that of 

 vibratory agitation. As an analysis of compressional energy can not 

 well proceed without a choice between these two general types of energy, 

 no hesitation was felt in adopting this view as a working basis. 



To correlate the work of the unquestioned vibratory energies with 

 these organizing agencies, it was assumed that w^hen the agitation 

 was mild it merely separated the atoms and molecules somewhat and 

 thereby weakened their elastico-rigid holds on one another, giving the 

 adhesions a more viscous-like nature; that when the agitation was 

 much increased, it gave rise to fluidity, while still greater intensities 

 of agitation led to disintegration. 



These working concepts were found to form a clear-cut basis for 

 tracing the paths of energy and for the interpreting of its functions in 

 the work of compression. 



Under this interpretation, as indeed under any other that is tenable, 

 the revolutional or organizing energy is overwhelminglj^ greater than 

 the agitative and dispersive energy, while the latter, from its nature, 

 is fleeting and evanescent, in sharp contrast to the stability and endur- 

 ance of the former. 



INTERCHANGES BETWEEN THE BASAL TYPES OF ENERGY. 



The next step in the inquiry was a consideration of the natural inter- 

 changes between these types of energy. Exchanges between thermal 

 and mechanical energy are too familiar to need notice, but exchanges 

 between vibratory and revolutional energy, or between agitative and 

 organizing energy, need a word of explanation or of interpretation, 

 however inadequate it must be here. 



