120 [May 18, 
Chase.] 
Photodynumic Notes, VIII. By Pliny Earle Chase, LL.D. 
(Read before the American Philosophical Society, May 18, 1883.) 
876. Viriale. 
The theory of the virial, or mean vis viva during stationary motion, en- 
ables.us to codrdinate all forms of cyclical motion : rotary, orbital and os- 
cillatory. The grandest manifestations of the virial, which are given in 
cosmical motion, must be governed by the same laws as govern molecular 
movements. The complete development of the theory should, therefore, 
remove all the obscurity which still clings to the doctrine of radio- 
dynamic unity. The science of comparative kinetics is greatly indebted 
to Clausius, for his presentation of the theory, for the consequent simplic- 
ity which it introduces into the solution of problems which would other- 
wise be exceedingly complicated and for the facility of explanation, which 
it gives for methods which are substantially the same, but which, on ac- 
count of their novelty, have been often misunderstood. 
ony 
877 Virial Postulates. 
My photodynamic and other physical researches have been rewarded 
by a great number of cosmical illustrations of virial efficiency, which are 
based upon the following postulates : 
1. That cosmical masses represent internal energies, such as would be 
found if they were condensed from some primitive tenuous, elastic form 
of matter. 
2. That all chemical elements may have been condensed, in like manner, 
from a single primitive element or ether. 
3. That the velocity which enters into the primitive radial virial of the 
oscillating ethereal particles is the velocity of light @.). 
4, That the stationary motions of central inert masses, which represent the 
equal actions and reactions of primitive and derived virials should continue 
until the velocity of the primitive virial has been alternately acquired. and 
lost. 
5. That all stationary motions which represent equal actions and reac- 
tions should be harmonic, 
878. Stellar Virials. 
Solar or Stellar centres.of planetary systems are central inert masses 
(Post. 4), which are endowed with velocities of stationary motion, tend- 
ing to give velocities of stationary revolution, sending forth sethereal oscil- 
lations with the velocity of light (Post. 8) ana representing internal energies 
like those which would spring from nebular condensation (Post. 1). Their 
central stationary motions should, therefore, be cyclically determined by 
the alternate acquisition and exhaustion of the radial velocity of light 
(Post. 4). Herschel (Outlines of Astronomy, Sect. 399) discoursed eclo- 
