Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/355

340 sunshine, and the light reflected from its surface received on a screen, it formed a very beautiful and regular image; but the screen required to be placed very near to the metal, because of the short focal lengths of the depressions on the mercurial surface.

79. It is sometimes difficult to arrive by inspection at a satisfactory conclusion of the forms and arrangements thus presented, because of multiplied redexion and the particular condition of the whole, which will be described hereafter (95). When observed, well formed with vibrations so slow as to produce three or four elevations in a linear inch (70), they are seen to be conoidal heaps rounded above, and apparently passing into each other below by a curvature in the opposite direction. When arranged regularly, each is surrounded by eight others; so that, a single light being used, nine images may be sent from each elevation to the eye. These are still further complicated, when transparent fluids are used, by reflexions from the glass beneath. The use of ink (75) removes a good deal of the difficulty experienced, and the production of slow, regular, sustained vibrations, more (67. 69).

80. These elevations I will endeavour to distinguish henceforth by the term heaps.

81. The crispation on the long plate of glass described (67) always ultimately assumed a rectangular arrangement, i. e. the heaps were equidistant, and in rows parallel or at right angles to each other. The rows usually form angles of 45° to the sides of the plate at the commencement; but if the vibration be continued, the whole system usually wheels round through 45° until the rows coincide with the edges of the plate.

82. The lateral dimension of the heaps remained constant, notwithstanding considerable variations in the force of vibration. But it was soon found that variation in the depth of water affected their number; that with less water the heaps were smaller, and with more water larger, though the sound therefore and the number of vibrations in a given period remained the same. The number of heaps could be reduced to eight or increased to eleven and a half in the three inches by a change in no other condition than the depth of fluid.

83. With the above plate (67.81)the appearances were usually in the following order, the pool of water being quadrangular or