tion>Ebenezer Cobham Brewer
A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4064066187002
Table of Contents
CHAPTER VII. MECHANICAL ACTION. 1.—PERCUSSION.
CHAPTER VIII. 2.—FRICTION. 3.—CONDENSATION.
CHAPTER IX. EFFECTS OF HEAT. 1.—EXPANSION.
CHAPTER X. EXPANSION FROM HEAT. (Continued.)
CHAPTER XI. 2.—LIQUEFACTION. 3.—VAPORIZATION.
CHAPTER XIII. COMMUNICATION OF HEAT. 1.—CONDUCTION.
CHAPTER XIV. 2.—ABSORPTION OF HEAT.
CHAPTER XV. 3.—REFLECTION OF HEAT.
CHAPTER XIX. CARBONIC ACID GAS.
CHAPTER XX. CARBURETTED HYDROGEN GAS.
CHAPTER XXI. PHOSPHURETTED HYDROGEN GAS.
CHAPTER XXIV. SNOW. HAIL. RAIN.
PREFACE.
Of all science, none is more generally interesting than that which explains the common phenomena of life. We see that salt and snow are both white, a rose red, leaves green, and the violet a deep purple; but how few persons ever ask the reason why! We know that a flute produces a musical sound, and a cracked bell a discordant one—that fire is hot, ice cold, and a candle luminous—that water boils when subjected to heat, and freezes from cold; but when a child looks up into our face and asks us “why,”—how many times is it silenced with a frown, or called “very foolish for asking such silly questions!” The object of the present book is to explain about 2000 of these “silly questions” (which are often more easily asked than answered) in language so simple that a child may understand it, yet not so childish as to offend the scientific; and in order that the answers may be strictly correct, not only the most approved modern authors have been consulted, but the manuscript has been submitted sheet by sheet to the revision of two gentlemen of acknowledged reputation for scientific attainments. To the Rev. A. Bath Power, M. A. especially, great obligation is due, for a careful revision of the whole manuscript, for many excellent hints, and useful additions.
