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
Let us conclude, therefore, that _Democritus_ hath in this particular
better Philosophated than _Aristotle_. But yet will not I affirm, that
_Democritus_ hath reason'd rightly, but I rather say, that there is a
manifest Experiment that overthrows his Reason, and this it is, That
if it were true, that calid ascending Atomes should uphold a Body,
that if they did not hinder, would go to the bottom, it would follow,
that we may find a Matter very little superiour in Gravity to the
water, the which being reduced into a Ball, or other contracted
Figure, should go to the bottom, as encountring but few Fiery Atomes;
and which being distended afterwards into a dilated and thin Plate,
should come to be thrust upwards by the impulsion of a great Multitude
of those Corpuscles, and at last carried to the very Surface of the
water: which wee see not to happen; Experience shewing us, that a Body
_v. gra._ of a Sphericall Figure, which very hardly, and with very
great leasure goeth to the bottom, will rest there, and will also
descend thither, being reduced into whatsoever other distended Figure.
We must needs say then, either that in the water, there are no such
ascending Fiery Atoms, or if that such there be, that they are not
able to raise and lift up any Plate of a Matter, that without them
would go to the bottom: Of which two Positions, I esteem the second to
be true, understanding it of water, constituted in its naturall
Coldness. But if we take a Vessel of Glass, or Brass, or any other
hard matter, full of cold water, within which is put a Solid of a flat
or concave Figure, but that in Gravity exceeds the water so little,
that it goes slowly to the bottom; I say, that putting some burning
Coals under the said Vessel, as soon as the new Fiery Atomes shall
have penetrated the substance of the Vessel, they shall without doubt,
ascend through that of the water, and thrusting against the foresaid
Solid, they shall drive it to the Superficies, and there detain it, as
long as the incursions of the said Corpuscles shall last, which
ceasing after the removall of the Fire, the Solid being abandoned by
its supporters, shall return to the bottom.
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