Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/366

1831.] waves could be reflected to produce stationary undulations in the ordinary manner.

110. When a similar arrangement was made with mercury on a concave tin plate, the effects were still more beautiful and convincing. The centre portion was covered with one regular group of quadrangular crispations; at some distance from the centre, and where the mercury was less in depth, these passed into concentric, ring-like heaps, of which there were a great many; and outside of these there was a part wet with mercury, but with too little fluid to give either lines or heaps. Here there could be no reflected waves; or, if that were thought possible, those waves could not have formed both the circular rings and the square crispation. When this plate was vibrated, the mercury spread in all directions up the side; a natural consequence of the production of powerful oscillations at the middle, which would extend their force laterally, but quite against their being due to the opposition and crossing of waves originating at the sides.

111. A limited depth of fluid is by no means necessary to produce crispations on the surface (73). A circular glass basin about five inches in diameter and four inches deep was attached to a lath (69), filled with water and vibrated, the exciting rod being applied at the side (71). The surface of the water was immediately covered with the most regular crispations, i. e. heaps arranged quadrangularly. On taking out part of the water and filling it up with oil, the oil assumed the same superficies. On putting an inch in depth of mercury under the water, the mercury became crispated. The experiment was finally made with water fourteen inches in depth. Particles at a very moderate depth in the water seemed to have no motion except the general motion of the fluid, and the whole of the lower part of the water may be considered as performing the part of a solid mass upon which the superficial undulating portion reposed. In fact, it matters not to the fluid, what is beneath, provided it has sufficient cohesion, is uniform in relation to the surface fluid, and can transmit the vibrations to it in an undisturbed manner.