A SWARM OF METEORITES, AND ON THEORIES OP COSMOGONY. 
51 
These values are set out in the annexed figure in the curve marked “free path,” 
and are supplemented by the values found above for small and large values of s. 
The constant limit 4 falls o\itside the figure. The horizontal portion of the curve is 
asymptotic to the s-axis. 
No immediate use is made of these conclusions, but it was proper to examine tliis 
point in the theory. 
§ 16. On the Sorting of Meteorites according to size and its Results. 
It is a well-known result of the kinetic tlieory of gases, that if a number of different 
gases co-exist, each gas has the same density as though it alone existed, and was 
subject to the resultant forces of the system ; also the mean kinetic energy of agitation 
of each gas is the same. From this it follows that the elasticity of each gas is 
inversely proportional to the mass of its molecule. 
Carrying on this conclusion to meteorites, we see that the elasticity of the gas 
formed by large meteorites is less than that for small; and, lienee, there is a greater 
concentration of large meteorites towards the centre, and there will be a sorting 
according to size. The object of this section is to investigate this point. 
In §§14 and 15, the laws of a kinetic tlieory were investigated when the gas 
consisted of molecules of all masses, grouped, according to a laAv of fre(j[uency, about 
a certain mean radius, and molecules of infinite mass were considered to be admissible, 
with, of course, infinite rarity. Now, if we were to continue to use that law of 
frequency of masses in the present investigation, we should find, as an analytical 
H 2 
