The Boy's Playbook of Science / Including the Various Manipulations and Arrangements of Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus Required for the Successful Performance of Scientific Experiments in Illustration of the Elementary Branches of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy

by John Henry Pepper

No. 1. Sections of a toy-boat floating in water. b b b. Three brass wires placed at regular distances and screwed into the bottom of the boat, with cuts or slits at the top so that when the leaden bullets, l l l, which are perforated and slide upon them like beads, are raised to the top, they are retained by the brass cuts springing out; when the bullets are at the bottom of the lines they represent persons sitting in a boat, as shown in the lower cuts, and the centre of gravity will be within the vessel.

We thus perceive that the stability of a body placed on a base depends upon the position of the line of direction and the height of the centre of gravity.

Security results when the line of direction falls within the base. Instability when just at the edge. Incapability of standing when falling without the base.

Fig. 53.

No. 2. The leaden bullets raised to the top now show the result of persons suddenly rising, when the boat immediately turns over, and either sinks or floats on the surface with the keel upwards.

The leaning-tower of Pisa is one hundred and eighty-two feet in height, and is swayed thirteen and a half feet from the perpendicular, but yet remains perfectly firm and secure, as the line of direction falls considerably within the base. If it was of a greater altitude it could no longer stand, because the centre of gravity would be so elevated that the line of direction would fall outside the base. This fact may be illustrated by taking a board several feet in length, and having cut it out to represent the architecture of the leaning-tower of Pisa, it may then be painted in distemper, and fixed at the right angle with a hinge to another board representing the ground, whilst a plumb-line may be dropped from the centre of gravity; and it may be shown that as long as the plummet falls within the base, the tower is safe; but directly the model tower is brought a little further forward by a wedge so that the plummet hangs outside, then, on removing the support, which may be a piece of string to be cut at the right moment, the model falls, and the fact is at once comprehended.

Fig. 54.