Buffon's Natural History. Volume 10 (of 10): Containing a Theory of the Earth, a General History of Man, of the Brute Creation, and of Vegetables, Minerals, &c. &cBuffon, Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de
History
Buffon's Natural History. Volume 10 (of 10): Containing a Theory of the Earth, a General History of Man, of the Brute Creation, and of Vegetables, Minerals, &c. &c
Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de
Natural history
On the whole, although this mirror is susceptible of a very great
perfection, both for the adjustment, and many other particulars, and
though I think I shall be able to make another, whose effects will be
superior, yet, as every thing has its limits, it must not be expected
that every one can be formed to burn at extreme distances; to burn,
for example, at the distance of half a mile, a mirror 200 times larger
would be required; and I am of opinion that more will never be effected
than to burn at the distance of 8 or 900 feet. The focus, whose motion
is always correspondent to that of the sun, moves so much the quicker
as it is farther distant from the mirror; and at 90 feet it would move
about six feet a minute.
However, as I have given an account of my discovery, and the success of
my experiments, I should render to Archimedes, and the ancients, the
glory that is their due. It is certain that Archimedes could perform
with metal mirrors what I have done with glass, and that, consequently,
I cannot refuse him the title of the first inventor of these mirrors,
and the opportunity he had of using them rendered him, without doubt,
more celebrated than the merit of the thing itself.
Many advantages may be derived from the use of these mirrors; by an
assemblage of small mirrors, with hexagonal planes, and polished steel,
which will have more solidity than glasses, and which would not be
subject to the alterations which the light of the sun may cause, we may
produce very useful effects, and which would amply repay the expences
of the construction of the mirror.
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