Physics of the Terrestrial Environment, Subtle Matter and Height of the Atmosphere. Eric Chassefiere
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Table of Contents
1 Cover
5 1 Words Used to Describe the Atmosphere and Subtle Matter 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Air and the atmosphere 1.3. Vapors and exhalations 1.4. Coarse and subtle matters 1.5. The triptych of heat, fire and light 1.6. Ether 1.7. Fundamental properties of air
6 2 Refractive Matter 2.1. Introduction 2.2. State of knowledge in the 17th century 2.3. Arguments for the introduction of a refractive matter other than air 2.4. Discussion 2.5. Conclusion
7 3 Solar Matter 3.1. Introduction 3.2. State of knowledge of the Sun in the 17th century 3.3. Solar matter and height of the atmosphere 3.4. Conclusion
8 4 Magnetic Matter 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Main concepts of magnetism in the 17th century 4.3. The explanation of the aurora borealis by magnetic matter 4.4. Magnetism in the second half of the 18th century 4.5. Conclusion
9 5 Electrical Matter 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Highlighting the link between electricity and thunderstorm activity 5.3. Knowledge of the nature of electricity in the mid-18th century 5.4. Precursory work on fiery meteors 5.5. Explanation using electricity 5.6. Elucidation of the origin of fiery meteors and falling stars 5.7. Conclusion
10 6 Subtle Air 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Difference in mercury heights between different barometers 6.3. Suspension of water and mercury from the tops of inverted tubes 6.4. Gravity theories and the impulse system 6.5. Light barometers 6.6. Conclusion
11 7 Results and Theories on the Height of the Atmosphere in the 18th Century 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Representation of the atmosphere inherited from previous centuries 7.3. Two major paradigms for the composition and vertical extension of the atmosphere in the 18th century 7.4. The three main inconsistencies between estimates of atmospheric height made by different methods 7.5. Two other methods for estimating the height of the atmosphere 7.6. Conclusion
12 8 Atmospheres of Earthly Bodies 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Porosity of bodies 8.3. Atmospheres of bodies 8.4. Conclusion
13 Conclusion
14 References
15 Index
List of Illustrations
1 Chapter 2Figure 2.1. Riccioli’s twilight table (Riccioli 1651, p. 39)Figure 2.2. Experimental device used by Lowthorp for his refraction measurements...Figure 2.3. Representation of marine instruments (“English quarter”, Figures 9 a...
2 Chapter 3Figure 3.1. Cometary tail patterns (Oliver 1777, p. 148). For a color version of...Figure 3.2. Drawing of an aurora observed in Breuillepont, France (Mairan 1733, ...Figure 3.3. Table of auroras borealis observed between 500 and 1731. Totals per ...
3 Chapter 4Figure 4.1. Explanatory diagram of vortex formation (Descartes 1681, p. 212)Figure 4.2. Explanatory diagram of the orientation of a magnet in the vicinity o...
4 Chapter 5Figure 5.1. Representation of the explosion of the fiery meteor of July 17, 1771...Figure 5.2. Diagrams of the fiery meteor of 1758 from the various testimonies co...Figure 5.3. Trajectory of the 1771 meteor between its appearance in Sussex Count...
5 Chapter 6Figure 6.1. Device used by Huygens to show water suspension (Huygens 1672, p. 13...Figure 6.2. Schematic diagrams of various experiments carried out by Hauksbee to...
6 Chapter