58 report — 1859. 



General Physics. 



A Proposal of a General Mechanical Theory of Physics- 

 By J. S. Stuart Glennie, M.A. 



The approach of a planet to a sun, iron to a magnet, one particle to another, may 

 be the effect of, or conceivable only as the effect of a pull of the sun, the magnet, or 

 the first particle ; but such a pull, however useful as a temporary metaphysical, or 

 metaphorical conception, is mechanically an absurdity : such approach can be mecha- 

 nically conceived only as the movement of the planet, the iron, or the second particle 

 in the direction of least pressure as between the sun, the magnet, or the first particle, 

 and some third body. 



A somewhat extensive colligation of physical facts has led to the conviction that, 

 by further experimental and mathematical research, attractions and repulsions will 

 be found explicable as expressions of the relations of the pressures between three 

 bodies, a general mechanical theory of physics established, and thus the " persuasion" 

 of Mr. Faraday and the profoundest scientific thinkers, " that all the forces of nature 

 are mutually dependent, having one common origin, or rather being different mani- 

 festations of one fundamental power," demonstrated as a truth. 



The mechanical conceptions and explanations of phenomena with diffidence offered 

 in this paper, are as yet given, less as a theory, than as a proposal of a way in which a 

 general mechanical theory may be established. And the following is a summary of, 

 perhaps, the principal of these conceptions and modes of explanation. 



Atoms are conceived as mutually determining centres of pressure. 



Thus, atoms are not conceived as particles in a medium or in space, at distances 

 from each other determined by the proportions of the hypothetical forces of attraction 

 and repulsion, but as in contact with, and pressing against each other, while their 

 centres are at distances determined by relations of inward and outward pressure. 



For convenience of representation and mathematical calculation, atoms may also 

 be defined as centres of lines of pressure ; the comparative length of these lines 

 being taken to represent, not the absolute, but the relative development of the force 

 of the atom. 



Matter, or that which resists our force, is conceived as a form of force ; and the 

 idea of force is explained by the conceptions of — 



Equilibrium — the state of equality among the opposing pressures of a system of 

 atoms (defined as above) or bodies (defined as aggregates of atoms). 



Motion — the effect of a difference of polar pressures on an atom or body ; deter- 

 mined in direction by the resultant of greatest pressure ; in degree (or velocity) by 

 the ratio of such difference ; and as uniformly accelerated, varyingly accelerated, or 

 uniform, according as that ratio is constant, varyingly, or uniformly inconstant. 



A line of motion — the direction of the transmission of pressure relatively in- 

 creased at one point, and correspondingly decreased at all others. 



Heat and specific heat — the former is conceived as an expression of the relations 

 of the mutual pressures of bodies, — the latter, of atoms. 



The solid, liquid, and gaseous states appear deducible from certain conditions of 

 relative pressure between three bodies or atoms. 



From the condition of equal transmission in all diiections, it follows that, in a 

 system with that condition, an increased pressure in any direction will be, as it were, 

 broken up ; hence the ratio of resistance at any point will be greater than if the 

 pressure had been directly transmitted ; it will be radially transmitted ; and will 

 diminish according to the law of the inverse squares. 



The phenomena of static electricity appear explicable as the results of the pressure 

 on each other of heterogeneous bodies, or bodies of less and greater power of resist- 

 ing pressure. Hence the outward pressure of the one is increased, of the other 

 diminished ; and hence positively and negatively electrified balls may be represented, 

 the former as having its own, the latter the lines of pressure of the medium increased. 



The poles of dynamic electricity are the ends of a line of motion, — points of 

 greater and less pressure. 



The relation of magnetism and electricity is the mechanical consequence in a 

 medium of the lateral diminution of pressure increased at a point. 



Conduction and insulation, magnetism and diamagnetism are corresponding 



