714 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



but the chances arc vastly in favor of rotation, and when once 

 commenced rotation increases Avith accelerating force. 



The effect of rotation is to incline matter to separate, and go otf 

 in a tano-ential direction, as we see the particles flying off from the 

 rapidly rotating wheel ; but gravitation restrains this tangential 

 tendency, and holds the matter to its rotation, and the force 

 becomes only a centrifugal force, counteracting and opposing the 

 centrifugal force of gravitation. The centrifugal force increasing, 

 an equatorial belt swells out, the poles depress, and the mass 

 becomes an yblate sphere. 



Condensation from cooling now supervenes, and renders the 

 exterior equatorial matter less mobile, or more viscid ; and this, 

 also, tends to counteract gravitation, and the specific gravity being 

 increased, c^ ntrifugal force is still more increased ; and finally, in 

 a portion of the equatorial protruding belt, the centripetal and 

 centrifugal forces become equals and being thus equal and per- 

 fectly balanced, it ceases to fall, and stops in the form of a ring ; 

 but its revolving tendency is not interrupted. 



The interior mass being relieved from its exterior incumbrance 

 is more volatile, and goes on falling as before, until, in obedience 

 to the same laws, another ring detaches itself, then another, and 

 another, till the sun has finally settled down to its present dimen- 

 sions of 863,000 miles diameter. 



Eeturuing to the first ring, we find that it has been gradually, 

 but constantly, radiating its heat and contracting, and that on 

 one side, from some unknown cause, it had separated, and the 

 annular mass, under the influence of its own interior gravitation, 

 had, without the least shock or disturbance, gathered itself together 

 in its o-rand orbit, in which it is still moving with the same velo- 

 city and at the same distance from the prime centre, as Avhen it 

 first separated. 



The same laws were operative in the separation and formation 

 of satellites as of primaries. 



Aif interesting fact in support of this theory is that two of the 

 offshoots from Saturn still maintain their status as rings, no defect 

 in their integrity having admitted of rupture. 



After Jupiter had been segregated, it seems reasonable to sup- 

 pose that the remaining primary mass nu'ght have been in some 

 way unusually perturbed, so that the succeeding ring had many 

 weak points, admitting of its breaking and forming many asteroids. 



