30 MEDIUM DEVELOPING SUNSHINE. 



This experiment practically demonstrates that 

 mechanical action, applied to move bodies toward 

 and from one another, is capable of producing 

 light and heat, identical with sunshine. 



While the upper plate rests on the lower plate, 

 the electric ether remains in an electrostatic con- 

 dition in the plates, developing no action until 

 they are moved asunder, when a spark is ob- 

 tainable by lifting the upper plate. This ever- 

 ready spark may be conveniently employed for 

 kindling gas-lights, by directing it through the 

 jet of gas. 1 



The most regular and systematic mode of mov- 

 ing bodies, for disturbing and putting in motion 

 the electric medium, is by axial and orbital revo- 

 lutions opposite to each other, as naturally em- 

 ployed in the daily and annual revolutions of the 

 planets of the solar system, and in the rotations 

 of artificial electric and magneto-electric machines. 



Every impulse of mechanical force applied to 

 rotate an inductive electric machine, or a mag- 

 neto-electric machine, develops the excitation 

 denoted " electric light and heat," the equiva- 

 lent of sunshine. The mechanical force of water- 

 falls, of the winds and waves of the sea, and 



1 The "static' 1 '' condition of forces is commonly considered to be 

 their state of absolute rest ; but so far is this idea from being true, 

 that, on the contrary, a double extent of oppositely directed impulses is 

 requisite for the counterbalancing of forces. When any disturbance 

 of the equilibrium is produced, then the predominant force develops a 

 resultant dynamic action. To these resultant forces may be traced most 

 if not all of the relative movements of terrestrial matter, as will hereafter 

 more fully appear. 



