upon Gun-powder ^ &c. 
B' 2 S 
Of the fpecific gravity of gun-powder* 
To determine the fpecific gravity of gun-powder I made ufe 
of the following method. A large glafs bucket, with a narrow 
mouth, being fufpended to one of the arms of a very nice 
balance, and exaftly counter-poifed by weights put in the op- 
polite fcale, it was filled firft with government powder poured 
in lightly,, then with the fame powder fhaken well together, 
afterwards with powder and water together, and laftly with 
water alone, and in each cafe the contents of the bucket were 
very exactly weighed. 
The fpecific gravity of gun-powder,, as determined from 
thefe experiments, is as follows ;• 
Specific gravity of rain water 
Government powder, as it lies light in a heap, mixed 1 
with air » - « -- j 
Government powder well fhaken together 
The folid fubflance of the powder 
1,000 
0,836 
°>937 
G745 
irlence it appears,, that a Cubic inch of government powder 
fhaken well together weighs juft 24.3 grains;; that a Cubic inch 
©f folid powder would weigh 442 grains ; and* confequently, 
that the interfaces between the particles 6f the powder, as it 
is grained for ufe, are nearly as great as the fpaces which thofe 
particles occupy. 
MIS- 
