1881.] 267 [Chase. 



the equality of molecular vis viva, many well known evidences of atomic 

 and molecular rotation have been found, but I know of none wbicli furnish 

 the necessary data for determining in what way the intrinsic rotations, 

 which are due to simple reaction against the undulations of the luminiferous 

 aether, have been modified by the accelerations of terrestrial rotation and 

 the various unknown mechanical influences of chemical physics. The 



molecular velocity v oc -v-r accounts for all synchronisms of homogeneous 



media, but how are we to explain the synchronisms of rotation and revo- 

 lution in a body so heterogeneous, and, consequently, with such various 

 moments of inertia, as the Earth? If density itself was originally a func- 

 tion of distance fallen through, and, therefore, varied as i^ the synchronous 

 time for the aggregate of mean motions varied as 1/ (Z. The equation 

 s =vt is, therefore, constant for any given radius. In order that this con- 

 stancy may prevail, there must be some unit of density to represent either 

 the modified aether, or some gas which is directly subjected to the influence 

 of its vibrations. The hyper-elasticity of hydrogen, its wide difl'usion, its 

 continual presence in the solar explosions, the fact that it has the greatest 

 tenuity of any substance which we have been able to measure with pre- 

 cision, its importance in relation to Lockj^er's "basic lines," together with 

 the simple and significant harmonic indications of those lines,* all point to 

 it as the probable typical representative, or the transmitter, of primordial 

 undulation. In order to test this hj'pothesis, let x represent the specific 

 gravity or (Z of Earth ; 370.67 m., ihe value of i/gor^ at Sun, or Earth's 

 modulus velocity of rotation ; 6050, the molecular velocity of hydrogen ; 

 .0693, the ratio of the specific gravity of hydrogen to that of air; 773, the 

 ratio of the specific gravity of water to that of air ; x -^ 1.033789\ the mean 

 specific gravity of Earth if expanded to 1.033789 X its present radius, so as 

 to eliminate the condensation due to the action of Jupiter. Introducing 

 these values, in the constant equation s :=z vt, and considering v as the ve- 

 locity acquired in t, the time of condensation, we have "" ^ ^ — 



6050 ~ 



/ 773 X 



-\ '- , and X = 5. 527. Tlie mean molecular velocity of earth 



\.0693 X 1.0337893 ^ 



.0693 

 = 24.367 ft. pr. sec. ; the corresponding velocity of any terrestrial sub- 



24.367 X V/5T527 57.284 

 stance = =r-^ = =^ ft., if the densitv is compared with 



57.284 X 1/773 1592.655 



that of water, or _ = =- ft., if air at 0° and 760 mm. is 



yd i/d 



taken as the unit of density. These ratios are important in investigations 



which involve the modified or specific elasticity of bodies. 



* Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, xviii, 224-6. 



PROC. AMER. PHIIiOS. SOC. XIX. 108. 2h. PRINTED FEBRUARY 26, 1881. 



