A History of Science — Volume 3Williams, Henry Smith
History
A History of Science — Volume 3
Williams, Henry Smith
Science -- History
"Let us recall the results which we have given in a preceding chapter.
The atmosphere of the sun could not have extended indefinitely. Its
limit was the point where the centrifugal force due to its movement
of rotation balanced its weight. But in proportion as the cooling
contracted the atmosphere, and those molecules which were near to them
condensed upon the surface of the body, the movement of the rotation
increased; for, on account of the Law of Areas, the sum of the areas
described by the vector of each molecule of the sun and its atmosphere
and projected in the plane of the equator being always the same, the
rotation should increase when these molecules approach the centre of the
sun. The centrifugal force due to this movement becoming thus larger,
the point where the weight is equal to it is nearer the sun. Supposing,
then, as it is natural to admit, that the atmosphere extended at some
period to its very limits, it should, on cooling, leave molecules behind
at this limit and at limits successively occasioned by the increased
rotation of the sun. The abandoned molecules would continue to revolve
around this body, since their centrifugal force was balanced by their
weight. But this equilibrium not arising in regard to the atmospheric
molecules parallel to the solar equator, the latter, on account of their
weight, approached the atmosphere as they condensed, and did not cease
to belong to it until by this motion they came upon the equator.
"Let us consider now the zones of vapor successively left behind. These
zones ought, according to appearance, by the condensation and mutual
attraction of their molecules, to form various concentric rings of vapor
revolving around the sun. The mutual gravitational friction of each ring
would accelerate some and retard others, until they had all acquired the
same angular velocity. Thus the actual velocity of the molecules most
removed from the sun would be the greatest. The following cause would
also operate to bring about this difference of speed. The molecules
farthest from the sun, and which by the effects of cooling and
condensation approached one another to form the outer part of the ring,
would have always described areas proportional to the time since the
central force by which they were controlled has been constantly directed
towards this body. But this constancy of areas necessitates an increase
of velocity proportional to the distance. It is thus seen that the same
cause would diminish the velocity of the molecules which form the inner
part of the ring.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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