On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2) — John Shaqi
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2)Somerville, Mary
History
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2)
Somerville, Mary
Matter -- Constitution; Microscopy; Natural history
The chemical rays having been rendered visible by an increase in the
length of the periods of vibration, unsuccessful attempts have been made
to change the periods of the rays of heat beyond the red end of the
spectrum so as to bring them within the limits of vision. The idea of
effecting such a change by employing a substance opaque to light, but
pervious to heat, is due to Dr. Akin; but it has since been accomplished
by Dr. Tyndall, who, in the course of his experiments on radiant heat,
found that a solution of iodine in the bisulphide of carbon excludes the
most dazzling light, but transmits the rays of heat freely. He employed
a mirror, lined in front with silver, to concentrate the rays emitted
from the charcoal points of the electric lamp, and interposed a vessel
containing the solution in question, so that the rays of heat alone were
brought to a focus almost undiminished. When the solar spectrum was
examined, the point of maximum heat was found to be as far beyond the
extreme red on one side as the green rays on the other. In the spectrum
of the electrical light the point of maximum heat was also found to lie
beyond the extreme red, but the augmentation of intensity was so sudden
and enormous as far to exceed the maximum heat of the sun previously
determined by Professor Müller. Aqueous vapour powerfully absorbs
radiant heat; so a solar spectrum beyond the earth’s atmosphere might
probably exhibit as great intensity as the electrical light. With the
apparatus described oxidizable substances burst into the flame of common
combustion when put into the focus; but when the chemical action of the
oxygen of the atmosphere was excluded by igniting substances in vacuo by
the invisible rays of heat, their periods of vibration were so changed
as to bring them within the limits of vision. When the electric light is
very powerful, a plate of platinized platinum in vacuo is raised to
white heat at the focus of invisible rays; and when the incandescent
platinum is looked at through a prism, its light yields a complete and
brilliant spectrum. ‘In all these cases we have a perfectly invisible
image of the charcoal points formed by the mirror; and no experiment
illustrates the change of heat into light’ more strongly than the
following:—When the plate of platinum or one of charcoal is placed in
the focus, the invisible image raises it to incandescence, and thus
prints itself visibly on the plate. On drawing the coal points of the
lamp apart, or causing them to approach each other, the thermograph
follows their motion. By cutting the plate of carbon along the boundary
of the thermograph, a second pair of coal points may be formed of the
same shape as the original ones, but turned upside down; and thus by the
rays of the one pair of coal points which are incompetent to excite
vision, we may cause a second pair to emit all the rays of the spectrum.
Fluorescence and calorescence act in contrary directions. Fluorescence
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