The Boy's Playbook of Science Including the Various Manipulations and Arrangements of Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus Required for the Successful Performance of Scientific Experiments in Illustration of the Elementary Branches of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy

Although "The South Kensington Museum" now takes the lead, and surpasses all former scientific institutions by its vastly superior collection of models and works of art, there w...

In the present state of our knowledge it seems to be universally agreed, that we cannot properly commence even popular discussions on astronomy, mechanics, and chemistry, or on...

That power which drives a revolving body from a centre, and it may be illustrated by turning a closed parasol, or umbrella, rapidly round on its centre, the stick being the axis...

In a work of this kind, professedly devoted to a very brief and popular view of the different scientific subjects, much cannot be said on any special branch of science; it will...

The discovery of this fact is due to Archimedes, and it is a point in every solid body (whatever the form may be) in which the _forces_ of _gravity_ may be considered as _united...

It is recorded of the great Dr. Wollaston, that when Sir Humphry Davy placed in his hand, what was then considered to be _the_ scientific wonder of the day--viz., a small bit of...

In previous chapters one kind of attraction--viz., that of gravitation, has been discussed and illustrated in a popular manner, and pursuing the examination of the invisible, ac...

The term cohesion must not be confounded with that of adhesion, which refers to the clinging to or attraction of bodies of a dissimilar kind. The late Professor Daniell defines...

If water is poured into a glass, the surface is not level, but cupped at the edges, where the solid glass exerts its adhesive attraction for the liquid, and draws it from the le...

It has been already stated that the force of cohesion binds the similar particles of substances together, whether they be _amorphous_ or shapeless, _crystalline_ or of a regular...

There is hardly any kind of knowledge which has been so slowly acquired as that of chemistry, and perhaps no other science has offered such fascinating rewards to the labour of...

The consideration of the nature of this important element introduces to our notice one of the most original chemists of the eighteenth century--viz., the illustrious Scheele, wh...

This group of non-metallic elements has been frequently styled "Metalloids," meaning substances allied to, but not possessing, all the properties belonging to a metallic substan...

Of all the agents with which man is acquainted, not one can afford a greater source of wonderment to the ignorant, of meditation to the learned, than the effects of that marvell...

In describing the various means by which electricity may be obtained, it was stated that "Chemical Action" was a most important source of this remarkable agent; at the same time...

If a small helix, or coil of covered wire, is arranged with an unmagnetized steel needle within it, so that the discharge of a large Leyden jar may take place through the coil,...

The experiments already described in illustration of some of the phenomena of electro-magnetism are of such a simple nature that they may be comprehended without difficulty; but...

The engineering and philosophical details of this important instrument have grown to such formidable dimensions, that any attempt (short of devoting the whole of these pages to...

In the course of the popular articles on frictional and voltaic electricity, it has already been mentioned that whilst the _intensity effects_--such as the capability of the spa...

The correlation of the physical forces, heat, light, electricity, magnetism, and motion, is one of the most interesting subjects for study that can be suggested to the lover of...

At the end of the chapter devoted to the subject of light, will be found an experiment devised and carried out by Dr. Faraday, in which it is shown that if a bar of a peculiar g...

"To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper light To seek the beauteous eye...

This term appears to be often confounded with that of reflection, and signifies the bending or breaking back of a ray of light (_re_, back, and _frango_, to break); and it will...

No other optical instrument has ever caused so much wonderment and delight, from its origin to the present time, as this simple contrivance. For a long time its true value was o...

The analysis of light has been explained in a previous chapter, and it has been shown how the spectrum is produced. Colour, however, may be obtained by other means, and the prop...

In this part of the subject it is absolutely necessary to return to the theory of undulations with which the present subject was commenced. The inflection of light offers a thir...

This branch of the phenomena of light includes some of the most remarkable and gorgeous chromatic effects; at the same time, regarded philosophically, it is certainly a most dif...

Throughout the greater number of the preceding chapters it will be evident that the active properties of matter may be summed up under one general head, and may be considered as...

It must be apparent to those who read popular works on science, that they possess, at all events, one point of utility--viz., that they are _indicative_ of the various subjects...

Though clouds and darkness veil the encumbered sky. Fearless, through darkness and through clouds they fly, Tho' tempests rage,--tho' rolls the swelling main, The seas may roll,...

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