Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/39

24 trance of the tube an additional effect of the same kind is produced, by the edge obstructing the air which passes near it; the air is therefore propelled on to the flame, and mingling with the inflammable matter existing there, forms portions of exploding mixtures, which are fired by the contiguous burning parts, and produce sound, in the manner already described, with a roaring flame; only, the impelled current being more uniform, and the detonations taking place more rapidly and regularly, and in smaller quantities, the sound becomes continuous and musical, and is rendered still more so by the effect of the tube in forming an echo.

That the roaring flame gives sound in consequence of explosion, can hardly be doubted; and the progress from a roar to a musical tone is easily shown in the following manner:—-Take a lamp with a common cotton wick, and trim it with tether or alcohol; light it, and hold a tube over the flame (that which I have used is a thin tube of glass about an inch in diameter, and nearly 30 inches long); in a few seconds after introducing the flame, the draught will be sufficiently strong to blow it out, but if the current be obstructed by applying the fingers round the lamp at the bottom of the tube, combustion will go on, though irregularly; then, by a little management in admitting the air on one side or the other, and in greater or lesser quantity, it may be impelled on to the flame in various degrees, so as to produce a rough roaring sound, or one more continued and uniform, of a higher note, and more musical; and these may be made to pass into each other at pleasure: then, by substituting a stream of æthereal vapour for the wick, which may be easily done from a small flask through a tube, the tones may be brought out more and more clearly, until they exactly resemble those of hydrogen.

A similar experiment may be made with coal-gas: light a small Argand burner with a low flame, and bring a glass tube, which is, very little larger than the diameter of the flame, down upon it so as nearly to include it: the current of air will be impelled on the external part of the flame, it will remove the limit of combustion a little way up from the burner, that part of the flame will vibrate rapidly, burning with continued explosions, and an irregular tone will be obtained. Remove the burner, and fix on a long slender pipe to the gas-tube, so