1880.] ^-L [Chase. 



The modulus (h) of the velocity of rotation (^"r) is : h= ^= ( -' )V. 



Substituting the values of v. a, t, L, we find h = V^!^' — (^^^V 



= 13.741 miles = <5^Tg^^'- 



This gives 3949.084 miles for the polar radius, which is ^ mile less than 

 Bessel's estimate, and about -^^ of a mile less than Clarke's estimate from 

 the results of the British Ordinance Survey. It accords very closely, how- 

 ever, as we might reasonably have anticipated, with the ellipticity 



(asB^) ^^ deduced from pendulum experiments. * 



Relations of Ghemical Affinity to Luminous and Gosmieal Energies. By 

 Pliny Earle Ghase, LL.D. 



{Bead before the American Philosophical Society, April 16, 1880.) 



All the principles which T have apv^lied successfully to the discovery of 

 harmonic relations of cosmical mass and density, should be applicable also 

 to the discovery of similar relations of molecular mass and density, and to 

 a consequent extension of our knowledge of chemical physics. The appli- 

 cation can be made most properly by clieraical experts, but some indica- 

 tions of the methods to be pursued may be acceptable, even though they 

 come from one who makes no claim to any special chemical experience. 



In 1838, Sir John Herschel published his remarkable attribution to the 

 energy of the Sun's rays, "of almost every motion which takes place on 

 the surface of the Earth. By its beat are produced all winds, and those 

 disturbances in the electric equilibrium of the atmosphere which give rise 

 to the phenomena of lightning, and probably also to those of terrestrial 

 ma,gnet:sm and the aurora, "f 



In 1856, Kohlrausch found that the ratio between the electrostatic and 

 the electromagnetic units was apparently, and perhaps exactly, equivalent 

 to the velocity of light:]: {v-X 



In 1863, I found that the reaction of gravity to the elasticity and vis viva 

 of atmospheric rotation, furnished a simple method for approximately esti- 

 mating the Sun's distance by means of barometric fluctuations. § and began 

 a series of studies of cosmical and molecular harmonies which are depend- 

 ent and consequent upon general kinetic laws. 



In the year following,! I announced "the discovery of certain new re- 

 lations between the solar and lunar diurnal variations of magnetic force 



* Enc. Brit., 9th edition, vii, 60!. 

 t Outlines of Astronomy, § 399. 

 X Pogg. Ann. 



§ Proc. Am. Phil. See., ix, 287. 

 II lb. ix, 425. 



