The Energy System of Matter: A Deduction from Terrestrial Energy PhenomenaWeir, James, active 1883-1912
Science
The Energy System of Matter: A Deduction from Terrestrial Energy Phenomena
Weir, James, active 1883-1912
Force and energy
To recapitulate the more general conditions, we find the earth, alike
with other planetary masses, pursuing a defined orbital path, and
rotating with uniform angular velocity in the lines or under the
influence of the gravitation, thermal, luminous, and other incepting
fields (§§ 17, 18, 19) which originate in the sun. Its axial rotation,
in these circumstances, gives rise to all the secondary transformations
(§ 9) of terrestrial axial energy, which in their operation provide the
varied panorama of terrestrial phenomena. Terrestrial axial energy is
thus diverted into terrestrial secondary processes. Each of these
processes is found to be united to or embodied in a definite material
machine (§§ 27-30), and is, accordingly, limited in nature and extent by
the physical properties and incepting factors associated with the
materials of which the machine is composed. By ordinary methods of
transmission, energy may pass from one material to another, that is to
say from one machine to another, and by this means definite chains of
energy processes are constituted, through which, therefore, passes the
axial energy originally transformed by the action of the sun. These
series or chains of energy processes are also found to be one and all
linked at some stage of their progress to the general atmospheric
machine (§ 29). The energy operating in them is, in every case, after
many or few vicissitudes according to the nature of the intermediate
operations, communicated to the gaseous atmospheric material. By the
movement of this material in the working of the atmospheric machine (§
38) the energy is finally returned in its original form of axial energy
of rotation. The sun's action is thus in a manner to force the inherent
rotatory energy of the planet into the cyclical secondary operations,
all of which converge alike towards the general atmospheric mechanism of
return. The passage of the energy through the complete secondary
operations, and its re-conversion into its original axial form, may be
rapid or slow according to circumstances. In equatorial regions, where
the influence of the sun's incepting fields is most intense, we find
that the inherent planetary axial energy is communicated with great
rapidity through the medium of the aqueous vapour to the air masses. By
the movement of the latter it may be just as rapidly returned, and the
whole operation completed in a comparatively short interval of time. In
the same equatorial regions, the transformations of axial energy which
are manifested in plant life attain their greatest perfection and
vigour. But in this case the complete return of the operating energy may
be very slow. The stored energy of tropical vegetation may still in
great part remain in the bosom of the earth, awaiting an appropriate
stimulus to be communicated to more active material for the concluding
stages of that cyclical process which had its commencement in the
absorption of axial energy into plant tissue. The duration of the
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