In addition to the foregoing subjects, we have included some of the experimental details of Chemical Science, with illustrations. We have added a chapter upon Aërial Navigation and Ballooning, with anecdotes of some of our celebrated aëronauts. We have also enlarged upon Light, Sound, Heat, Physical Geography, Mineralogy, Geology, Electrical Appliances, the Electric Light, and most of the latest adaptations of electricity.
It will be seen, therefore, that the present work is not only intended for the young; everyone, it is hoped, will find in it something interesting and also profitable, which, if not desired for self-instruction, may at any rate be turned to account as a means of teaching others that science, which is universal, can, when rightly apprehended, preside even over our pleasures and amusements.
The Editor.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I.—INTRODUCTORY. | |
| PAGE | |
| Science and Recreation—The Book of Nature—The Senses—Natural History—NaturalPhilosophy—Matter—Objects—Properties of Matter | [1] |
| CHAPTER II.—OPEN-AIR SCIENCE. | |
| Science in the Open Air—Aphides—Evaporation by Leaves—An Aquarium—TheCataleptic Fowl—Needle Points and Thorns—Microscopic Aquarium—CapeGrisnez—Crystals—Ice on the Gas Lamps | [6] |
| CHAPTER III.—PHYSICS. | |
| Physics—The Meaning of Physics—Forces of Nature—Gravity—Cohesion—ChemicalAttraction—Centre of Gravity—Experiments—Automaton Tumblers | [22] |
| CHAPTER IV.—PHYSICS (Continued). | |
| Some Properties of Solid Bodies—Inertia—Motion—Friction—The Pendulum—Equilibrium | [35] |
| CHAPTER V.—GASES. | |
| Gases and Liquids—Pressure of the Air—Experiments | [44] |
| CHAPTER VI.—WATER. | |
| About Water—Hydrostatics and Hydraulics—Law of Archimedes—The BramahPress—The Syphon | [59] |
| CHAPTER VII.—HEAT. | |
| Heat—What it is—Theory of Heat—The Thermometer—Expansion by Heat—Ebullitionand Distillation | [72] |
| CHAPTER VIII.—HEAT (Continued). | |
| Specific Heat—Fusion—Latent Heat—Conduction and Convection of Heat—Calorescence | [88] |
| CHAPTER IX.—LIGHT. | |
| Light and its Sources—What is Light?—Velocity of Light—Reflection and Refraction—RelativeValue of Lights | [93] |
| CHAPTER X.—LIGHT (Continued). | |
| Vision and Optical Illusions—The Eye Described—Accommodation of the Eye—ChromaticAberration—Spinning Tops | [102] |
| CHAPTER XI.—OPTICS. | |
| Optical Illusions—Zollner’s Designs—The Thaumatrope—Phenokistoscope—TheZootrope—The Praxinoscope—The Dazzling Top | [116] |
| CHAPTER XII.—OPTICS (Continued). | |
| Optical Illusions Continued—Experiments—The Talking Head—Ghost Illusions | [129] |
| CHAPTER XIII.—OPTICS (Continued). | |
| Vision—The Eye—The Stereoscope—Spectrum Analysis—The Spectroscope—TheTelescope and Microscope—Photography—Dissolving Views—Luminous Paint | [140] |
| CHAPTER XIV.—SPECTRAL ILLUSIONS. | |
| A Spectre Visible—Curious Illusions—Ghosts | [161] |
| CHAPTER XV.—ACOUSTICS. | |
| The Ear and Hearing—Physiology of Hearing and Sound—Sound as Compared withLight—What is Sound?—Velocity of Sound—Conductibility—The Harmonograph | [166] |
| CHAPTER XVI.—ACOUSTICS (Continued). | |
| The Topophone—The Megaphone—The Autophone—The Audiphone—The Telephone—ThePhonograph—The Microphone | [180] |
| CHAPTER XVII.—ACOUSTICS (Continued). | |
| The Tuning-Fork—The Syren—Sound Figures—Singing Flames | [193] |
| CHAPTER XVIII.—ELECTRICITY. | |
| Derivation of Electricity—Sealing Wax Experiment—The Electrophorus—Leyden Jar—Positiveand Negative—The Electroscope—Electric Machines | [197] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| Velocity of Electricity—Experiments—The Electric Egg—Force of the Electric Spark | [212] |
| CHAPTER XX.—GALVANISM. | |
| Galvani’s Discovery—The Frogs Electrified—Experiments—Volta’s Pile—The Test—ItsUsefulness—Faraday’s “Researches.” | [217] |
| CHAPTER XXI.—MAGNETISM. | |
| The Loadstone—Magnetic Curves—The Magnetic Needle—The Mariner’s Compass—Magneto-Electricity | [254] |
| CHAPTER XXII.—APPLIED ELECTRICITY. | |
| Sundry Electrical Appliances—Mr. Edison’s Inventions—The Electric Light—TheGyroscope—A New Electrophorus—Electric Toys | [262] |
| CHAPTER XXIII.—AERONAUTICS. | |
| Pressure of Air in Bodies—Early Attempts to fly in the Air—Discovery of Hydrogen—TheMontgolfier Balloons—First Experiments in Paris—Noted Ascents | [293] |
| CHAPTER XXIV.—CHEMISTRY. | |
| What Chemistry is—The Elements—Metallic and Non-Metallic—Atomic Weight—Acids—Alkalis—Bases—Salts—ChemicalCombination and Study | [307] |
| CHAPTER XXV.—CHEMISTRY (Continued). | |
| Chemistry without a Laboratory | [313] |
| CHAPTER XXVI.—CHEMISTRY (Continued). | |
| Chemistry and Alchemy—Chemical Combinations—The Atmospheric Air | [336] |
| CHAPTER XXVII.—THE ELEMENTS. | |
| Non-Metallic Elements | [348] |
| CHAPTER XXVIII.—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS (Continued). | |
| Chlorine—Bromine—Iodine—Fluorine—Carbon—Sulphur—Phosphorus—Silicon—Boron—Tellurium—Arsenic | [366] |
| CHAPTER XXIX.—THE METALS. | |
| What Metals are—Characteristics and General Properties of Metals—Classification—SpecificGravity—Descriptions | [386] |
| CHAPTER XXX.—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. | |
| Radicals—Acids—Bases—Neutrals | [410] |
| CHAPTER XXXI.—MINERALOGY AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHY. | |
| The Minerals—Characteristics—Crystals and their Forms—Descriptions of Minerals | [424] |
| CHAPTER XXXII.—NEW LOCOMOTIVE APPLIANCES. | |
| The Kite—The Aerophane—Ice Yachts—Sailing Trucks—Water Velocipedes | [448] |
| CHAPTER XXXIII.—ASTRONOMY. | |
| Introductory—History of Astronomy—Nomenclature | [466] |
| CHAPTER XXXIV.—ANGLES AND MEASUREMENT OF ANGLES. | |
| The Quadrant—Transit Instrument—Clocks—Stellar Time—Solar Time—“MeanTime” | [474] |
| CHAPTER XXXV.—THE SOLAR SYSTEM. | |
| Gravitation—The Planets—Size and Measurement of the Planets—Satellites—FallingStars—Comets—Aerolites | [486] |
| CHAPTER XXXVI.—THE SUN. | |
| Motion of the Sun—The Seasons—Character of the Sun—Sun-Spots—Zodiacal Light | [496] |
| CHAPTER XXXVII.—THE EARTH. | |
| Form of the Earth—Motion of the Globe—Rate and Manner of Progression—Latitudeand Longitude—The Seasons | [504] |
| CHAPTER XXXVIII.—THE MOON. | |
| What is it Like?—Moon Superstitions—Description of the Moon—Phases—Tides—Eclipses | [510] |
| CHAPTER XXXIX.—THE STARS. | |
| The Planets and Asteroids | [521] |
| CHAPTER XL.—THE FIXED STARS. | |
| Fixed-Stars—Magnitude of the Stars—Constellations—Descriptions of the ZodiacalConstellations—Northern and Southern Star Groups—Distance of Stars | [535] |
| CHAPTER XLI.—THE STARS (Continued). | |
| Double and Multiple Stars—Coloured and Variable Stars—Clusters, Groups, andNebulæ—The Galaxy, or Milky Way—How to Find out the Principal Stars | [546] |
| CHAPTER XLII.—NEW ASTRONOMICAL APPLIANCES. | |
| A Celestial Indicator—Astronomical or Cosmographical Clock—A Simple Globe—ASolar Chronometer | [557] |
| CHAPTER XLIII.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. | |
| Geography and Geology—The Earth’s Crust—Origin of the Earth—Denudation andExcavation by Water—Rocks, Gravel, and Sand—Classes of Rocks | [564] |
| CHAPTER XLIV.—GEOLOGY. | |
| Crust of the Earth—Geological Systems—Eozoic, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Pre-HistoricFormations | [573] |
| CHAPTER XLV.—GEOLOGY (Continued). | |
| The Mesozoic System—The Triassic, Oolitic, and Cretaceous Formations—TheEocene, Miocene, and Pliocene—The Glacial Period—Pre-Historic Man | [584] |
| CHAPTER XLVI.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. | |
| Igneous Rocks—Land and Water—Springs, Wells, and Geysers—Snow and Ice—TheirEffects | [601] |
| CHAPTER XLVII.—THE SEA AND THE SKY. | |
| The Sea—Salt Water—Waves and their Effects—Under Water—The Floor of theOcean | [610] |
| CHAPTER XLVIII.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. METEOROLOGY. | |
| The Atmosphere—Winds and Air Currents—Wind Pressure—Storms—Rain-clouds—Water-Spouts—AtmosphericalPhenomena | [628] |
| CHAPTER XLIX.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. METEOROLOGY (Continued). | |
| Atmospheric Phenomena—Thunder and Lightning—Aurora Borealis—The Rainbow—Mock-Sunsand Mock-Moons—Halos—Fata Morgana—Reflection and Refraction—Mirage—Spectreof the Brocken | [642] |
| CHAPTER L.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. CLIMATOLOGY. | |
| Weather; Climate, and Temperature—Isothermal Lines—Isobars, Weather Forecasts,and Signs of the Sky | [651] |
| CHAPTER LI.—BIOLOGY. PART I.: BOTANY. | |
| Plants and Animals—Structure of Plants—Flowering Plants—The Stem—The Leaves—Formsof Leaves | [658] |
| CHAPTER LII.—FLOWERING PLANTS. | |
| Organs of Increase and Reproduction—The Flower—The Calyx—The Corolla—TheStamen—The Pistil | [675] |
| CHAPTER LIII.—FLOWERING PLANTS (Continued). | |
| The Floral Axis—Inflorescence—Fruit—Seed—Nutrition of Plants—Absorbtion ofConstituents | [679] |
| CHAPTER LIV.—ZOOLOGY. | |
| Classification of Animals—Vertebrates and Invertebrates—Protozoa—Hydrozoa—Actinozoa | [700] |
| CHAPTER LV.—ECHINODERMATA—ANNULOSA—ENTOZOA—INSECTA. | |
| Sea-Urchins—Star-Fishes—Feathery Stars—Sea-Cucumbers—Worms—Leeches—Rotifers—TapeWorms—Insects | [712] |
| CHAPTER LVI.—THE ANALYSIS OF CHANCE AND MATHEMATICAL GAMES. | |
| Magic Squares—The Sixteen Puzzle—Solitaire—Equivalents | [726] |
| CHAPTER LVII.—GAMES (Continued). | |
| The Magic Top—The Gyroscope and Scientific Games | [740] |
| CHAPTER LVIII.—SCIENCE AT HOME. | |
| Scientific Objects for the Household | [747] |
| CHAPTER LIX.—DOMESTIC SCIENCE. | |
| Science and Domestic Economy | [757] |
| CHAPTER LX.—CURIOUS INVENTIONS. | |
| Some Curious Modes of Transit | [770] |
