BY MOLECULAR COALESCENCE. 17 
ence of its former sphere, they are the two molecules 
which remain in contact, and will be the first to take up 
a fixed position about the centre of the new sphere. Also, 
the molecules composing the adjacent sides of these two 
spheres, in the immediate vicinity of this central point, 
being circumstanced similarly to the first two molecules, 
in respect to the amount of effective force attracting them 
towards the centres of their respective spheres, will be but 
feebly retained in their old position, and therefore ready 
to leave it, and jom those molecules which by their appo- 
sition formed the central part of the sphere now in progress 
of formation. For the same reason, the next and all the 
circumjacent molecules contained in these hemispheres, 
are less forcibly attracted towards their respective spheres, 
just in proportion to their proximity to their pomt of con- 
tact; and hence these molecules, bemg im a condition to 
admit easily of displacement by those of the remote hemi- 
spheres, whose attraction will have been less weakened, 
will readily give way under the pressure of the latter, 
which will be drawn towards one another en masse. The 
directions taken by these molecules will be understood in 
a general way by inspecting diagram e, fig. 3. All those 
situated in the parts of the component spheres external to 
the circular area of the resultant one will have to move 
imwards towards its centre, whilst all those contained in 
the parts of the component spheres nearer to the unoccu- 
pied portions of area of the resultant spheres will be 
carried outwards from its centre; and thus these particles 
will continue to move until the area of the large circle is 
filled up. Now, as the forces urging these particles in 
these two directions act upon them simultaneously, each 
particle in passing from its condition of rest in the com- 
ponent sphere to one of rest in the resultant sphere, will 
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