Transcriber’s notes: The text of this e-book has mostly been preserved in its original form including some inconsistency of hyphenation and use of diacritics (aeriform/aëriform). Three spelling typos have been corrected (arrangment → arrangement, pully → pulley, dye → die) as have typos in equations on pages 40 and 43. Some missing punctuation has been corrected silently (periods, commas, incorrect quotes). Footnotes have been positioned below the relevant paragraphs. In this plain text version, italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by *asterisks*. A caret (^) indicates that the following character is superscripted, e.g. D^2 (D squared). A TREATISE ON MECHANICS, BY CAPTAIN HENRY KATER, V. PRES: R.S. ----and---- DIONYSIUS LARDNER, D.C.L. F.R.S. &c. &c. A NEW EDITION REVISED & CORRECTED. 1852. [Illustration: _H. Corbould del._ _E. Finder fc._] London: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN & LONGMANS. PATERNOSTER ROW: ADVERTISEMENT. This Treatise on Mechanics, which was originally published in 1830, is the work of Dr. Lardner, with the exception of the twenty-first chapter, which was written by the late Captain Kater. The present edition has been revised and corrected by Dr. Lardner. _London, January, 1852._ CONTENTS. CHAP. I. PROPERTIES OF MATTER. Organs of Sense.--Sensations.--Properties or Qualities.--Observation. --Comparison and Generalisation.--Particular and general Qualities.-- Magnitude.--Size.--Volume.--Lines.--Surfaces.--Edges.--Area.--Length. --Impenetrability.--Apparent Penetration.--Figure.--Different from Volume.--Atoms.--Molecules.--Matter separable.--Particles.--Force.-- Cohesion of Atoms.--Hypothetical Phrases unnecessary.--Attraction. 1 CHAP. II. PROPERTIES OF MATTER, CONTINUED. Divisibility.--Unlimited Divisibility.--Wollaston’s micrometric Wire. --Method of making it.--Thickness of a Soap Bubble.--Wings of Insects. --Gilding of Wire for Embroidery.--Globules of the Blood.-- Animalcules.--Their minute Organisation.--Ultimate Atoms.--Crystals.-- Porosity.--Volume.--Density.--Quicksilver passing through Pores of Wood.--Filtration.--Porosity of Hydrophane.--Compressibility.-- Elasticity.--Dilatability.--Heat.--Contraction of Metal used to restore the Perpendicular to Walls of a Building.--Impenetrability of Air.--Compressibility of it.--Elasticity of it.--Liquids not absolutely incompressible.--Experiments.--Elasticity of Fluids.-- Aeriform Fluids.--Domestic Fire Box.--Evolution of Heat by compressed Air. 9 CHAP. III. INERTIA.