EMILY.
And equally so that the power of radiation should correspond with that of absorption. It is, in fact, cause and effect; for a body cannot radiate heat without having previously absorbed it; just as a spring that is well fed flows abundantly.
MRS. B.
Fluids are in general very bad radiators of caloric; and air neither radiates nor absorbs caloric in any sensible degree.
We have not yet concluded our observations on free caloric. But I shall defer, till our next meeting, what I have further to say on this subject. I believe it will afford us ample conversation for another interview.
[CONVERSATION III.]
CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT.
MRS. B.
In our last conversation, we began to examine the tendency of caloric to restore an equilibrium of temperature. This property, when once well understood, affords the explanation of a great variety of facts which appeared formerly unaccountable. You must observe, in the first place, that the effect of this tendency is gradually to bring all bodies that are in contact to the same temperature. Thus, the fire which burns in the grate, communicates its heat from one object to another, till every part of the room has an equal proportion of it.
EMILY.