336 Hydrostatics. 



sible error, be assumed as equal to the length ZJV of the beam 

 from the middle of the deck. Supposing the height of the me- 

 tacentre to be 3 feet 10 inches above the centre of gravity, a 

 weight equal to the two hundredth part of the burthen or ton- 

 nage of the ship, and acting on a lever of 50 feet in length, would 

 occasion a inclination of five degrees. If the experiment were 

 performed in a wet-dock, or on a smooth calm sea, such a small 

 angle could be measured with sufficient accuracy. In calculat- 

 ing the effect of this disturbing influence, it is easy to perceive 

 that half the weight of the beam should be added to q. A 

 trifling correction may be likewise made, for assuming GR as 

 equal to JVL; by first diminishing JVX, by its product into the 

 versed sine of the inclination, and next augmenting it, by the pro- 

 duct of GJV into the sine of that angle. 



A similar method might be adopted to discover the height 

 of the longitudinal metacentre of the ship, above the common 

 centre of gravity. But, acting in this direction, a greater load 

 will be required to produce a sensible depression. Let such a 

 load be carried to the prow of the vessel, and again transferred 

 to the stern. The intermediate place of the centre of gravity 

 is hence determined, for its distances from these opposite points 

 of pressure must evidently be inversely as the corresponding an- 

 gles of inclination. The small change of the centre of gravity 

 occasioned by the interchange of these loads, may likewise be 

 computed. Finally, therefore, the product of either load into its 

 distance from the centre of gravity, being divided by the pro- 

 duct of the whole burthen of the ship into the sine of the incli- 

 nation, will give the height of the metacentre of the longitudinal 

 section on which depends the motion of pitching. 



Capillary Attraction. 



454. The most curious natural phenomena are those which 

 make us acquainted with the intimate constitution of bodies 



