CHAPTER II 



THE RELATIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS OF 

 ENERGY DURING THE EVOLUTION OF 



MATTER 



Since every ether particle, and so every resulting atom or 

 molecule of matter, is constantly charged with some form or 

 forms of energy, and since it is by utilization of such energy 

 that the more complex combinations of matter result, we may 

 next appropriately treat of the relations and transformations 

 of that energy. 



In the early nebulous condition of our earth, heat was the 

 abundant and active type of energy. This originated in part 

 as the intra-atomic heat of the gaseous particles that made 

 up our planet when thrown off from the sun; in part it was 

 absorbed subsequently as solar heat radiated out into space. 

 This heat, associated with elastic ether particles, caused rapid 

 motion of these. In this gaseous state of the earth, a tem- 

 perature of at least 15,000° C. may have existed according to 

 Arldt. But, as seems to be the history of every planetary 

 mass, a gradual condensation of heat took place round each 

 particle, so as to increase its rate of motion and also the sum 

 total of stored intra-atomic energy. This then may be re- 

 garded as the primary or initial phase of earth evolution in 

 relation to energy flow and storage. 



The above condition was gradually succeeded by one in 

 which the elemental atoms began to pass into a liquid state at 

 or toward the surface of the mass, and so into a condition in 

 which the energy-charged particles described a more restricted 

 but more intensely energized pathway of motion. Tlie atomic 

 energy now manifested itself chiefly as light, which is at once 

 a more evolved and perfect form of energy than heat, though 

 transformed from it by increased condensation of energy units. 



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