The sources of physical science : being an introduction to the study of physiology through physics. Comprising the connexion of the several departments of physical science, their dependence on the same laws, and the relation of the material to the immaterial / by Alfred Smee.

  • Smee, Alfred, 1818-1877.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sources of physical science : being an introduction to the study of physiology through physics. Comprising the connexion of the several departments of physical science, their dependence on the same laws, and the relation of the material to the immaterial / by Alfred Smee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    3G HUMAN MEASURES. be led to forget that tlie line primarily depends on matter. However, it is far more useful for the promotion of strict philosophical inquiry, to define length by the material action that gives rise to the phenomenon. Length is the abstract idea of a certain material effect, derived from a scries of atoms arranged in the same direction or in a row. The length is proportionate, always supposing equa- lity of attraction, to that of the number of atoms. Relative lengths, or lengths of different extent, can thus be easily referred to each other. Although confusion has arisen by making the abstract mate- rial phenomenon of length and breadth immaterial, a more injurious confusion might occur if the perfectly abstract character of these terms were neglected by philosophers. A specimen of such mistake would occur in the definition of a line as length with the least conceivable breadth, which definition would in practice actually overturn the entire science of geometry. (53.) The measures we employ for the ordinary wants of mankind are, first, measures of length, as the yard measure; secondly, measures of surfaces, which is a measure of length in two directions; the second measure of length being at right angles to the first, and usually termed the breadth. As measures of surface we talk of roods, perches, acres, Ac. The third set of measures are those of solids, as of a cubic inch of wood, marble, Ac. As a variety of a cubic measure we have measures