KEPLER'S LAWS. 233 



11 Newton showed that if the planets move round 

 the sun describing elliptical curves, according to 

 laws (the discovery of which is due to Kepler), it 

 is because they are submitted to a constant force, 

 located as it were in the sun, a force the direc- 

 tion of which is that of a radius vector, or a right 

 line, which joins the planet and the common 

 focus." 



Is it not possible that the elliptical orbit of the 

 earth may be produced by the (so-called) repul- 

 sion of poles of the same name of the sun and 

 earth, propelling them apart in one direction in 

 summer, and the (so-called) attraction of poles of 

 contrary names of the sun and earth propelling 

 them together in another direction in winter ? 



The apsis line connects the aphelion and 

 perihelion points, and passes through the sun ; 

 so that the most direct and powerful repulsion 

 and attraction between the sun and earth occurs 

 at these points. 



Kepler's second law. is thus stated : " In the 

 motion of a planet around the sun, the radius 

 vector drawn from the centre of the sun to the 

 planet sweeps over equal areas in equal times. 



" Every planet moves round the sun with varia- 

 ble velocity, and more rapidly as it approaches the 

 common focus. The earth, therefore, moves less 

 quickly during the summer season of the north- 

 ern hemisphere than during the winter season." x 



1 The Heavens, p. 121. Guillemin. 



