Popular Scientific Recreations: in Natural Philosphy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, etc., etc., etc.Tissandier, Gaston
Science
Popular Scientific Recreations: in Natural Philosphy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, etc., etc., etc.
Tissandier, Gaston
Scientific recreations
The various experiments made to ascertain the intensity of sounds have
resulted in the conclusion that they can be heard at great distances.
For instance, the steam whistle is distinctly audible 10,000 feet up in
the air, and human voices are heard at an altitude of 5,000 feet. A
man’s voice alone will penetrate more than 3,000 feet into the air; and
at that elevation the croaking of frogs is quite distinguishable. This
shows that sound ascends with ease, but it meets with great resistance
in its downward course, for the aeronaut cannot make himself audible
to a listener on the earth at a greater distance than 300 or 400 feet,
though the latter can be distinctly heard at an elevation of 1,600
feet. The diminution of temperature noted by M. Flammarion is stated
to be 1° Fahr. for every 345 feet on a fine day. On a cloudy day the
mean decrease was 1° for every 354 feet of altitude. The temperature
of clouds is higher than the air surrounding them, and the decrease is
more rapid near the surface, less rapid as the balloon ascends. We may
add that at high elevations the cork from a water-bottle will pop out
as if from a champagne flask.
We have hitherto referred more to M. Flammarion and other French
aeronauts, but we must not be considered in any way oblivious of
our countrymen, Messrs. Glaisher, Green, and Coxwell, nor of the
American,—one of the most experienced of aerial voyagers,—Mr. Wise. The
scientific observations made by the French voyagers confirmed generally
Mr. Glaisher’s experiments. This noted air-traveller made twenty-eight
ascents in the cause of science, and his experiences related in
“Travels in the Air,” and in the “Reports” of the British Association,
are both useful and entertaining. For “Sensational ballooning” one
wishes to go no farther than his account of his experience with Mr.
Coxwell, when (on the 5th of September, 1862) he attained the greatest
elevation ever reached, viz., seven miles, or thirty-seven thousand
feet.
We condense this exciting narrative for the benefit of those who have
not seen it already.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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