274 Description of the Rotascope. 
garded as its prolongation,) will be kept for some time horizontal ; 
but though thus suspended, as if by some mysterious agency, they 
constantly perform a circuit which has a vertical, drawn from the 
oint of suspension, for its axis. If the velocity of the horizontal 
revolution be diminished, the sustaining rod will incline downwards 
more rapidly than when left to itself, until at length it reaches the 
position of rest. But if the velocity of that revolution be augment- 
ed by any external force, the wheel and ring will rise in opposition 
to gravity, until the rim of the wheel strikes the suspending cord. 
The wooden rod will then have come to a position nearly vertical, 
me noe the wheel and ring at its upper end, but still continuing 
the horizontal motion. This paradoxical appearance would continue 
the longer by having a delicate metallic swivel link in some part of 
the cord, which should prevent the twist that otherwise soon opposes 
the horizontal motion, to such an extent as to depress the rod in the 
course of afew minutes. It will be seen that the revolution ina hori- 
~ gontal direction being the resultant of gravity, combined with the 
rotary motion of the wheel, must become more rapid in proportion 
as the velocity of the latter on its axis is diminished ; because the 
force of gravity is then a greater component in the combined forces 
which act upon the system. 
4, Having replaced the wheel and ring 1, in their connection with 
the frame, set the latter on its pivot, upon the base B. Make the 
circle or ring 3 fast in a vertical position; apply cords to the pulley 
on the axis of ring 2, and bringing the pullies p, p, to 4 proper ele- 
vation, make them fast and pass those cords over them to sustain 
weights. Having given the wheel a rapid motion, take hold of one 
of the urns uw, u, and cause the whole frame to revolve horizontally 
on its pivot. As the persistency of the wheel in the plane of its mo 
tion, prevents the ring 2 from revolving, the motion of the frame will 
gradually wind up the cords about the pulley. At the same time, 
however, the ring 1 will gradually change its plane, and bring the 
wheel to a position to obey the action of the weights- The portion 
of cord which had been previously wound about the pulley will then 
be uncoiled, and a considerable momentum communicated to t 
system, composed of the rings 1 and 2, which will, if the tightens 
screw ¢ be made fast, again wind up the cord in the opposite direc- 
tion about the pulley. As soon as the said rings, however, are ag2” 
deprived of their momenium, by the action of the weights, the Jatter 
will again tend to produce a rotation in the ring 2, which will be oP” 
