TABLE.
| No. of the Experi- ment. | No. of the Candles. | Time of burning. | Weight of the Candles consumed in a given time. | Strength of Light. | Distance of the Candles from the Wall. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| h. | oz. | dr. | Feet. | ||||||||||
| 1 | - | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 7 | |||||
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 1 | + | 7 | |||||
| Mould | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 7 | |||||||
| 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 55 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 8 | |||||
| 3 | 2 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 1 | + | 8 | ||||||
| Mould | 2 | 55 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 8 | |||||||
| 3 | - | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3⁄4 | 1 | 8 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1⁄8 | 8 | 3⁄4 | |||||
| Mould | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | |||||||
| 4 | - | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | .18 | 8 | 3⁄4 | |||
| Mould | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1⁄8 | 1 | . | 8 | |||||
These experiments, Mr. Walker informs us, were made in the following manner:—
Three candles, the dimensions of which are given in the table, against 1, 3, and mould. These were first weighed, and then lighted at the same instant. At the end of the time inserted in the third column of the above table, they were extinguished and weighed again, and the loss of weight of each candle is contained in the fourth column.
The three first experiments were made under such favourable circumstance, that there was little doubt of their results being more accurate than what practical utility requires, but the fourth experiment cannot be depended on so much, in consequence of the variable light of No. 5. This candle was moved so often to keep the two shadows equal, that it was found necessary to set down its mean distance from the wall by estimation; but as this was done before the candles were weighed, the experimenter’s mind could not be under the influence of partiality for a system.
The method which Mr. Walker employed in comparing one light with another in each experiment, was that which has been described [page 24].
1. The experiments were made at different times, and the light of the mould candle was made the standard, with which the lights of the others were compared; but it must not be understood, that this candle gave the same strength of light in every experiment.
2. The sign + in the 5th column, signifies that the candle against which it is placed, gave a stronger light than the others.
From the experiments contained in the table, it appears to be an established law, where combustion is complete, that the quantities of light produced by tallow candles, are in the complicate ratio of their times of burning and weights of matter consumed.