368 Mr. Whelpley on the Idea of an Atom. 



ameters of the nucleus of an atom — the dimension of that nucleus 

 is its temperature, specific or relative. The forces, extended 

 through space, diminish in intensity as the square of the distance 

 from their centres. When the forces of one atom develope those 

 of another, the two must gravitate. An atom left to itself can 

 have but one axis of forces, and the inertial motion of bodies is 

 the vibration of an atom in that axis. The lohole repellent or 

 attrahent power of an atom from its centre outwards, is the same 

 at all distances from that centre, (outside the nucleus,) for it dimin- 

 ishes as the distance square, being only ' diffused' in the surface 

 of a sphere of which the nucleus is in the centre. Aeriformity 

 is caused by the tendency of the two powers of an atom to satisfy 

 each other, and be equally present in any point in the surface of 

 the nucleus ; the rise of temperature is the extension of the limit 

 of this tendency, i. e. the expansion of the nucleus. The nuclei 

 never penetrate each other, but when compressed, diminish ; their 

 diminutions are exactly balanced by the expansions of those in 

 contact with them, (i. e. they give out " sensible heat.") As the 

 nuclei diminish, the intensity of their polarities increases propor- 

 tionately ; and all changes of this nature happen by pulses ; and 

 these pulses move outward into space, causing light, and radiant 

 heat. Liquidity is the stale of equilibrium, between solid and 

 gaseous. Solidity is the development of the forces of an atom in 

 the axes of the nucleus ; this development is caused by the 

 mere " contact" of nuclei already solid : or by that of other 

 liquid or gaseous nuclei, of the requisite temperature. Solidity 

 is therefore the exact opposite of aeriformity. Electricity is a 

 disturbance of the two forces of an atom, by which one is 

 increased at the expense of the other. Chemical combination 

 is the resolution of the forces of two or more atomic nuclei into 

 a single set of forces acting like those of a single atomic nucleus ; 

 but the centre of one atom cannot perfectly coincide with the centre 

 of any other atom. All the properties of an atom are variable, 

 and a change in one, causes compensatory changes in all. These 

 properties are, the distance, intensity, change of distance, and 

 change of intensity, by motions vibraiile and pulsatile. To 

 discover the laws of these changes belongs to the mathematician. 



