238 The American Geologist. October, 1904. 
these hypotheses, finds itself in a dilemma, from which it 
cannot extricate itself. 
§6. From the theory that rings were formed every time 
the centrifugal force overcame the centripetal, it follows, that 
the rotation which created the centrifugal force, was oscillat- 
ing since the centrifugal force itself was varying and irregular. 
When the same theory further advocates that the rotation is 
a result of the contraction which, again, is a result of gravita- 
tion, then the gravitation itself must have been oscillating, 
that is, increased and decreased alternately, since all its re- 
sults Avere oscillating. At the same time it is held, that the 
force of gravity in a certain mass is fixed and unchangeable. 
It follows, consequently, that neither the gravity nor the ro- 
tation, caused by said natural force, could be oscillating, from 
which follows further, that the centrifugal force neither can 
be nor has been oscillating. The theory about the formation 
of rings is, thus,- also at this point, absurd in the extreme, 
since it assumes said formation to be possible, only by sup- 
posing a variable rotation, due to a variable gravity of the 
nebular mass. 
We find, thus, that what is said in one sentence is con- 
tradicted in the next. 
§7. We have already shown, that the rotation of a nebu- 
la is independent of the condensation of its matter and the 
resistance with which this meets. A new question arises, 
therefore, in connection with this very subject, namely this : 
Would it be in harmony with the laws of nature to suppose 
that the centrifugal force, leaving out of question how the 
rotation was caused, could have expanded the equator of the 
nebula so as to rid it of those rings? 
Let us call particular attention to the fact, that even if 
the rotation of a heavenly body be assumed with a speed so 
tremendous as to satisfy any hypothesis-maker, say a thou- 
sand miles a second or so, there would even then be no detach- 
ment of matter from the rotating body, because of the fact, 
that the natural result of such a rotation would be an expan- 
sion and solution of the whole mass into a gaseous state with 
every particle of matter continually subjected in an equal 
degree, to the central force of gravity of the rotating mass. 
