E. B. Hunt on the Nature of Forces. 243 
/ 
repulsion y= act from the same centre their resultant, y,-y; 
i "* sass. JS 
xz" 

“, can only be zero when z= infinity, or when 
—_— 
=— 

t= iy - In general c= “, is the abscissa or radius 
a a 
of the point or sphere of equilibrium of these two forces. Hence 
such a primary attraction and a primary repulsion acting between 
simple atoms, can together give but one type or form of equilib- 
rium, and thus must fail to give the solid, liquid and gaseous con- 
ditions of aggregations. Besides two forces involving different 
laws of action or values of m, can in no wise give the simple 
Newtonian form as it appears in gravitation. From this we can 
say with confidence that heat or the interatomic repulsive force 
is no mere radial repulsion varying as Pa 
To suppose three or more distinct atomic forces varying as 
pe? Gar and yam or to suppose a single force following no sim- 
ple functional law, but being now repulsive, now attractive, now 
infinite and again Newtonian, is to give ourselves up to bewilder- 
Ment and to achieve a chaos of explanation, Simple emana- 
n. 
From the point which this discussion has now reached, I wish 
ion of Faraday, freely stating some objections not hitherto urged. 
oscovich by denying size to atoms, prevents them from pre- 
senting any material surface or volume on which to receive force 
then is the Newtonian law, or indeed any action to be derived ? 
this law but expresses the condition of ray-reception, what 
