MECHANISM OF NATURE 



of straight descent or cycloid path with any 

 contrivance. 



The difference in time between the several 

 modes of descent, while based theoretically on 

 the accumulative power of momentum, presup- 

 poses an occult capacity in material to take up 

 additional power without undergoing a physical 

 change, under the occult hypothesis so commonly 

 held. In the descent, of the pendulum weight, 

 one-half of the power of gravity is counteracted 

 by the restraint of the string; it begins with 

 nothing and gets up to the full weight as shown 

 by the scale, yet neither is the circular path twice 

 as long as the path of straight descent, nor is the 

 power of momentum one whit less. It is supposed 

 to be a dead attraction of gravity only that ac- 

 cumulates momentum in the descending weight. 

 And that momentum is again only an occult ten- 

 dency. 



But there is in the swinging of the pendulum a 

 uniformity of motion that is irreconciliable with 

 the theory that momentum is stored in the weight. 

 For in the downward swing momentum plus 

 gravity pulls, and in the upward swing momen- 

 tum minus gravity does the work. Yet, elimi- 

 nating friction and air resistance, upward and 

 downward swing are equal. 



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