648 PLATEAU ON THE PH/ENOMEXA OF A FREE LIQUID MASS 



This Table shows, in the first place, that the different values 

 obtained for the length of a division are not so far I'eraoved from 

 each other as to prevent our perceiving a constant value, the 

 uniformity of which is only altered by the influence of slight 

 accidental causes. In the second place, out of twenty experi- 

 ments, it happened once only that the masses adherent to the 

 bases were both of the small kind. 



In the thii-d place, both the perfectly regular results have 

 given identically the same value for the length of a division ; 

 this value, expressed approximatively to two decimal places, 

 is 6"67 miUims. ; but its exact expression is 6| millims. ; for 

 the operation to be effected consists in the case of the first 

 series, in the division of 90 millims. by 13'5, and in the case of 

 the second series, in the division of 100 millims. by )5. As the 

 two lengths given to the cylinder are considerable in proportion 

 to the diameter^ and consequently the numbers of division are 

 tolerably large, this value, 6| millims., ought very neai'ly, if not 

 exactly, to constitute that of the normal length of the divisions. 

 It is seen, moreover, that to give the divisions this closely approxi- 

 mative or exact value of the normal length, the transformation 

 has chosen, in one case the first, in the other case the second 

 method. 



55. Let us pursue our inquiry into the laws of the pheno- 

 menon with which we are engaged ; we shall soon make an im- 

 portant application of them, and it will then be understood why 

 so extensive a development is given to this part of our work. 

 It might be regarded as evident a priori that two cylinders 

 formed of the same liquid and placed in the same circumstances, 

 but differing in diameter^ would tend to become divided in the 



