|74 THE EEASON WHY. 



" He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon 

 nothing." JOB xxvi. 



781. Why do small lalies floating upon water move 

 towards larger ones ? 



Because the attractive power of a large body is greater than that 

 of a small one. As each atom of matter has inherent power of 

 attraction, it follows that a large aggregation of particles must 

 attract in proportion to the number of those particles. 



782. WTiy do clouds gather around mountain tops ? 

 Because they are attracted by Hie mountains. 



783. Why would a piece of lead tied to a string, and 

 let down from a church steeple, incline a little from the 

 perpendicular towards the church ? 



Because the masses of stone of which the church is built would 

 attract the lead. 



784. Sow can man weigh the earth ? 



By observing what is called the deflection of small bodies when 

 brought within given distances of larger bodies, the degree of 

 attraction exercised by the large body upon the smaller one 

 becomes known. This attraction of the large body exercised over 

 the smaller body is an opposing influence, acting against the 

 earth's attraction of the small body, which is drawn out of its 

 course : it constitutes a natural balance between the influence of 

 the earth and another body, acting in opposition to it. Founded 

 upon these, and some other data, man can weigh the earth, and 

 give a morally certain result ! 



Deflection. The act of turning aside. 



785. Sow can man weigh, the planets ? 



The planets exercise as certain an influence upon each other as do 

 two pieces of wood floating upon a basin of water. As the 

 planetary bodies fly through their prescribed orbits, and approach 

 nearer to, or travel further from, each other, they are observed 

 to deviate from that course which they must have pursued but for 

 the increase or the decrease of some influence of attraction. By 

 making observations at various times, and by comparing a number 

 of results, it is possible to weigh any planetary body, however vatt, 

 or however distant. 



