
audiobook
CONTRIBUTIONS - TO - SOLAR AND TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS.
PREFACE.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHAPTER I. - INTRODUCTORY. - The Sun.
CHAPTER II. - WHAT IS PROPOSED.
CHAPTER III. - THE GREAT FORCES, THEIR CHARACTER AND OPERATIONS.
CHAPTER IV. - SUNLIGHT. - Its Source and Nature.
CHAPTER V. - SUN-HEAT. - Its Source and Limits.
CHAPTER VI. - THE SEASONS. - Why their varying Temperature?
CHAPTER VII. - GRAVITY. - Its Essential Nature, and its Source.
In this compact yet thought‑provoking work, a nineteenth‑century physician turns his keen curiosity toward the forces that shape our world and the heavens. He openly admits the boldness of his venture, positioning himself against the prevailing scientific consensus while coaxing readers to consider fresh, philosophical angles on familiar phenomena. The prose reflects a confident, almost conversational tone that invites listeners to follow his reasoning without pretence of infallibility.
The author surveys a sweeping range of topics—from the nature of sunlight, its alleged non‑incandescence, and the mysterious source of solar heat, to the underlying character of gravity, the composition of the atmosphere, and the true drivers of winds and sun‑spots. He also delves into the transmission of sound, proposing unconventional mechanisms. Though his conclusions often challenge established views, the treatise remains a snapshot of an earnest attempt to re‑imagine the great physical forces that govern both Earth and sky.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (87K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Andrew Wainwright and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2008-03-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1822–1901
Best known for writing speculative books on physics and astronomy, this 19th-century American author liked to challenge accepted scientific ideas and present bold alternatives. His work ranges from cosmic theories to practical astronomy, giving modern listeners a vivid glimpse of independent scientific thinking in the late 1800s.
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