WITHDRAWN FROM THE ACTION OF GRAVITY 



285 



8. This proportion is greater as the liquid is more viscid <and as the config- 

 uring forces in it are weaker. 



9. In the case of a cylinder of mercury, this proportion is mucli less than 6, 

 and we may admit that it is less than 4. 



In the case of a cylinder composed of any other very slightly viscid liquid, 

 such as water, alcohol, &;c., it is very probable that the proportion in question 

 is very nearly 4. Hence, in the case of the latter liquids, we have for the 

 probable approximative value of the proportion of the diameter of the isolated 

 spheres resulting from the transformation and the diameter of the cylinder, the 

 number 1.8:^ ; and for that of the proportion of the distance of two adjacent 

 spheres to this same diameter, the uumbcr 2.18. 



10. If mr-rcury is the liquid, and the divisions have their normal length, the 

 time which elapses between the origin of the transformation and the instant of 

 the rupture of the lines, is exactly or apparently proportional to the diameter 

 of the cylinder. 



This law very probably applies also to each of the other very slightly viscid 

 liquids. 



This same law may possibly be general, i. e., it may be applicable to all 

 liquids ; but our^experiments leave this point uncertain. 



11. For the same diameter, and when the divisions are always of their normal 

 ■ length, the absolute value of the time in question varies with the nature of the 



liquid. 



12. In the case of mercury, and with a diameter of a centimeter, this absolute 

 value is considerably more than two seconds. 



13. When a cylinder is formed between two solid bases sufficiently approx- 

 imated for the proportion of the normal length of the cylinder to the diameter 

 to be comprised between once and once and a half the limit of stability, the 

 transformation gives only a single constriction and a single dilatation ; we then 

 obtain for the linal result only two portions of a sphere which are unequal in 

 volume and curvature, respectively adherent to solid bases, besides interposed 

 spherules. 



(to be continued in the next report.) 



