Masterpieces of Science 



miles in a second, and with resistances most 

 trivial in contrast with those of mechanical 

 friction. 



And what is friction in the last analysis but 

 the production of motion in undesired forms, the 

 allowing valuable energy to do useless work ? 

 In that amazing case of long distance transmis- 

 sion, common sunshine, a solar beam arrives at 

 the earth from the sun not one whit the weaker 

 for its excursion of 92,000,000 miles. It is 

 highly probable that we are surrounded by 

 similar cases of the total absence of friction in 

 the phenomena of both physics and chemistry, 

 and that art will come nearer and nearer to 

 nature in this immunity is assured when we see 

 how many steps in that direction have already 

 been taken by the electrical engineer. In a 

 preceding page a brief account was given of the 

 theory that gases and vapours are in ceaseless 

 motion. This motion suffers no abatement from 

 friction, and hence we may infer that the mole- 

 cules concerned are perfectly elastic. The 

 opinion is gaining ground among physicists that 

 all the properties of matter, transparency, 

 chemical combinability, and the rest, are due to 

 immanent motion in particular orbits, with 

 diverse velocities. If this be established, then 

 these motions also suffer no friction, and go on 

 without resistance forever. 



As the investigators in the vanguard of science 

 discuss the constitution of matter, and weave 

 hypotheses more or less fruitful as to the inter- 

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