70 



REPULSION OF LIGHT PROMOTES TRANSITION 

 TO FIXITY. 



IN addition to the properties of vision and velocity alluded 

 to, of which all other bodies are destitute, light possesses 

 another which constitutes its grand characteristic as radiant 

 matter. That its particles or atoms appear possessed of repul- 

 sive force, arid are therefore never found forming masses of any 

 sensible magnitude, as observed by Dr. Thompson. 



On this law its capability of transition to a fixed state seems 

 founded. 



It would appear that from the moment matter assumes the 

 radiant form there is a complete termination of the contact of 

 its particles, except by direct force arising from pressure, the 

 result of a propelling power equal to overcome the existing 

 repulsion they exercise towards each other ; where the influence 

 of this propelling power ceases, light is no longer visible. Its 

 combination with fixed bodies is, however, the more easily 

 effected, being promoted by the disposition they evince with 

 respect to aggregation so foreign from that of the atoms of 

 radiant matter to those of their own nature ; and this circum- 

 stance may be the effect of an opposite arrangement, with 

 respect to polarity, as hereafter explained. 



The polarization of light was discovered by Malus. Much has 

 been added of new facts on this subject, by Messrs. Bigot and 

 Arago, and by Sir David Brewster. 



The colors which bodies of fixed matter exhibit when viewed, 

 is occasioned by their power of absorbing all the rays save that 

 one, or those two, or more, that form the color reflected, from 

 the bodies' surface. 



This is a fact admitted, but it has not hitherto been accounted 

 for. It is, however, a part of this hypothesis to show, that it 

 arises from repletion in the visible surfaces of the atoms ; in 

 other words, that the matter of the ray or rays reflected, exists 



