A Discourse Presented to the Most Serene Don Cosimo II., Great Duke of Tuscany, Concerning the Natation of Bodies Vpon, and Submersion In, the Water.Galilei, Galileo
Science
A Discourse Presented to the Most Serene Don Cosimo II., Great Duke of Tuscany, Concerning the Natation of Bodies Vpon, and Submersion In, the Water.
Galilei, Galileo
Hydrostatics; Specific gravity
It is now to be noted, that the Board of Ebany and the Ball, put into
the water, both sink, but the Ball more swiftly, and the Board more
slowly; and slower and slower, according as it shall be more broad and
thin, and of this Tardity the breadth of the Figure is the true Cause:
But these broad Boards that slowly descend, are the same, that being
put lightly upon the water, do swimm: Therefore, if that were true
which the Adversaries affirm, the same numerical Figure, would in the
same numericall water, cause one while Rest, and another while Tardity
of Motion, which is impossible: for every perticular Figure which
descends to the Bottom[43], hath of necessity its own determinate Tardity
and slowness, proper and naturall unto it, according to which it
moveth, so that every other Tardity, greater or lesser is improper to
its nature: if, therefore, a Board, as suppose of a foot square,
descendeth naturally with six degrees of Tardity, it is impossible,
that it should descend with ten or twenty, unless some new impediment
do arrest it. Much less can it, by reason of the same Figure rest, and
wholly cease to move; but it is necessary, that when ever it resteth,
there do some greater impediment intervene than the breadth of the
Figure. Therefore, it must be somewhat else, and not the Figure, that
stayeth the Board of Ebany above water, of which Figure the only
Effect is the retardment of the Motion, according to which it
descendeth more slowly than the Ball. Let it be confessed, therefore,
rationally discoursing, that the true and sole Cause of the Ebanys
going to the Bottom, is the excess of its Gravity above the Gravity of
the water: and the Cause of the greater or less Tardity, the breadth
of this Figure, or the contractedness of that: but of its Rest, it can
by no means be allowed, that the quallity of the Figure, is the Cause
thereof: aswell, because, making the Tardity greater, according as the
Figure more dilateth, there cannot be so immense a Dilatation, to
which there may not be found a correspondent immence Tardity without
redusing it to Nullity of Motion; as, because the Figures produced by
the Antagonists for effecters of Rest, are the self same that do also
go to the Bottom.
[43] Every perticular Figure hath its own peculiar Tardity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account