lo calm the IVaVes of the Sea. 331 



m a conical form, and foaked in oil, is thrown into water, 

 the fluid wliich ill'ues from it caufes it to turn round with a 

 rotary motion on its centre. 



In an experiment which Franklin made on a Anal! lake, 

 the furfaceof which was raifed into large waves by the wind, 

 the oil fpread itfelf with great velocilv', but it did not mo- 

 derate the waves. The reafon of this was, that he poured 

 out the oil at the leeward fide of the lake. He therefore 

 went to the windward fide, where tlie waves originated ; and 

 there a fmali quantity of oil produced, in the fpace of feveral 

 fquare rods, a calm, which gradually extended farther until 

 it reached the other end of the lake; and this whole part of 

 it, for the extent of half an acre, foon became as fmoolh as 

 ice. 



Of the various explanations given of this phenomenon, 

 the following appears to be llic nio(l natural, if not altoge- 

 ther fatisfattory : — The air and water have an affinity for 

 each other, and they unite in a mechanical and chemical 

 manner when they come in contact. It is well known that 

 air always cxifts in water; that the latter can be freed fnr.n 

 it under the receiver of an air-pump; and that, when tlic 

 water is again expofed to the air, it abfurbs a like quantity 

 of it. AVhcn a niafs of air pretfes, therefore, on the lurface 

 of a bodv of water, it combines itfeU' in part with it, and 

 forces it along with it. Now, if oil be poured upon water, 

 llic partic:les of the former attract each other with too great 

 force to adniit of their uniting witii the water or the air, 

 .Jiy the covering which the oil forms on the furface of the 

 water, the latter is prevented from coming into conta£t with 

 ll'.f air; and the wind ig conveyed over its furface, without 

 being able to force its way into it, and to raife it into waves. 



The fpreading of oil in water is aieribed by Dr. Frankiiti 

 to a rei)uirive power wl'.ieh they both CAercife againit eacli 

 otiier; Init it is very evident tliat this explanation is fur fron; 

 bting falisfactory. \\\-cn if fuel) a power aotuallv exilicd, 

 and if the particles of the oil exereifcd a rcpuliivo powvr 

 Q 4 ygainll 



