THE ALLIANCE-INDEPENDENT.
SCIENCE FOR HOME.
SOME WONDERFUL RESULTS
FROM EXPERIMENTS.
Simple Experiments Which Can Be
Made Without Expense A Season In
Terms Used In Science Elasticity of
Hard Blatter.
CIENCE IIAS A
language of its
own, so to speak,
and scie ntific
students find it
safest to use
scientific lan
guage whenever
it will be under
stood, because
the use of popu
lar expressions,
and especially of
illustrative metaphors (like current of
"electricity," "law of gravitation,"
"electric fluid," and so on), may lead
to erroneous conceptions among peo
ple who are not scientific philosophers,
and derive their ideas from literature
designed to be adapted to their under
standing. Thus, many people who have heard
til
ElVTY.Hfe flit.
of "electric fluid" and "currents," con
ceive of the mystery of electricity in
an entirely wrong way. The truth is
that we do not Know wnai eiec
tricitv is. only of this we are quite cer
tain, that it is not a fluid, writes T. B.
Russell. Similarly, we talk about the
"laws" of nature, as if these were a
kind of force or influence causing cer
tain seauences of events to happen,
which is quite untrue. What people
mean, who use the term with under
standing, is simply this, that certain
things are found always occurring in
the same sequence, and that to that se
nuenee the name of a law is erven.
- The crreat difficulty to be faced in
trying to popularize science is not to
teach something- that is true, for that
is comparatively easy, but to avoid, if
possible, giving any erroneous impres
sions while dispensing, as much as pos
sible, with severely scientific langu
Let us try to see the meaning of one
or two scientific terms, for thus it wil
be possible to talk of scientific things
takes. One of the commonest technical
expressions is "matter." Matter simply
maans anything" that exists, and we
speak of anything material existing
when it is capable of impressing
when it has weight and occupies
space, that is, we know very well that
even the intangible air has weight, and
as for occupying space well, we are
more familiar with air in that capacity
than almost anv other.
-
When we speak of a room being
empty, we mean that it is occupied en
tirely by air. And the weight of at
mospheric air is shown every time a
child's air balloon bursts and is flat
tened out by the weight of air sur
rounding it. The elasticity of the
contained air keeps the balloon tight
as long as it is unpunctured, but other
wise, as we know, it is immediately
made limp and flabby.
Elasticity! That is another word
which has a scientific use. It means
the property by which matter which
has been deformed in any way re
acquires its original shape when let
alone. Some things which we should
not regard as elastic are really so in a
very remarkable degree, as a few ex-
perlments will show. Take a sma.l
......
handful of crumbs from the interior 01
a new loaf of bread, and knead it into
an irregular shape with the fingers. It
would be difficult to think of any thing
whiph most neoole would call less
elastic.
Yet if we strike the mass ever so
hard with a flat ruler, we cannot alter
the shape! It is flattened, but springs
back into position instantly. A glass
marble, or anv other kind of marble,
for that matter, rebounds from a hard
surface when dropped, in virtue of its
elasticity. The downward side of the
marble is flattened out, but it re-as
sumes its round shape so quickly as to
throw the marble up again in the air
We mav Drove to our own satisfaction
that it really was flattened, if we put a
little ink on the marble, ana see now
small a dot it will make when placed
gently on a paving stone. On dropping
the inked marble from the height 01
three or four feet, it will make a much
larger stain, for the flattening ,of the
side will allow a greater surface of the
ink to touch the stone.
Hang up by the strings four or five
wooden skittles or nine-pins, such as
are sold at the toy shops. The strings
must be tied to a stationary and hori
zontal bar in such a manner that the
skittles hang straight, and are lightly
in contact. Now lift the one end, and
let it fall again, striking its neighbor.
The skittle at the other end will lm
mediately fly up to about the same
height as you raised the first, but the
others will not appear to have moved
at all. The truth is, that each wil
have been "flattened," and in the re
bounding action, by which it resumes
its correct shape, it will have similarly
"flattened" its neighbor, until the last,
having nothing on the outer side to re
strain it, actually bounces.
The experiment may be imitated by
standing a number of persons in single
file, each with a hand on the back o
t.h nprson in front. Now cro to the
rear of the column (as it would be
called by a soldier), and give the last
person -a slight push. The impulse
will be transmitted from one to an
other, without causing any perceptible
shock, but the person at the other end
of the column, having nobody in front,
will either fall down or be compelled
to step forward to avoid doing so.
It is the elasticity and consequent re
bounding canacitv of ivory which
makes possible the game of billiards
If we place a number of billiard balls
against the cushion of a table, or, l
not available, if we place a dozen mar
bles against the edge of a book, we
may, without disturbing any of the
middle balls, send any desired number
flying from either end of the row, by
simply detaching a similar num
ber from the remote end, ana
rolling them back to their place
together with gentle force. And
by covering with a duster the hand
with which this is done, wo may con
siderably astonish any one not ac
quainted with the experiment Exactly
the same thing may be clone witn a
row of coins, the coins being of course,
made to slide flat on the table.
Vortex rings, such as some smokers
make for their amusement, are elastic,
and repel one another if they strike.
We may make them without
tobacco by holding a lamp glass,
which has one end covered with
paper, as shown here, the smoke of
anything (such as damp shavings or
brown paper) which emit a heavy
smoke. On tapping the paper drum
head at the end of the glass, we get
fine vortices. They consist of small
rings circulating round the circumfer
ence of the large ring that is visible,
in a manner which has been very
cleverly described by the analogy
of covering a curtain ring
with string, by winding the latter
round and round, passing the ball
through the space in the center, lhe
Our "Songs of the People" Have Created
For Themselves a Nation-W.de
Demand Which Enables
Us Now to Reduce
the Price.
rings will be most successfully obtained
if the open end of the lamp glass has
over it a piece of card with a circular
aperture smaller than the bore of the
class itself.
Water is one of the things which is
not elastic. It can hardly be com
pressed at all, on which fact depend?
the principle of the hydraulic press.
Coal.
marke.fl flrlvanco in prices
.. , tn
nf oll (rrooa of hard and SOU coal win
mu a trnot. fHffp.rp.ncft in the coal bill
maao .
of Nebraska. While this is irue mucn
can be saved by buying of first hands
u Th.T. J. Thomas Co., is
prepared to furnish coal on any line of
K . T.l 1- nnH tit! 1 1
road in Kansas or lxeuraaa. "
in living you prices
right at your station. See their adver
tisement in this paper ana write mem
mentioning the alahi-ainue.
PEN&ENT.
Fine Playing Cards.
a In stmns to John SO
OCUU MXjlX VWM"' " c
uotoin rrpn'l? Ticket and Pass. Afft,
n Tf t Xr p RV- Chicago, for a pack
"T?Wr Island" Playiag Cards.
ui . : . . . - , t
Thev are acknowledged tne oest, anu
order or postal note for 50c , and we
will send live pacics py express, piepiu.
The Tennessee Toiler: England hai
a land loan scheme by which tho
farmers of that country will, borrow
money from the liritish government
at 2 per cent If , the scheme Is so
wild and visionary that only cranks
advocate it how is it that the British
government, under the control of
statesmen who rank with the ablest in
the world, has given their adhesion
to such a scheme? Not only adv"o
cated. but actually adopted it an d, the
money is now being loaned.
We have all along contemplated reducing-
the nrico of our sonjrs Justus soon as we pos
slbly oould do so, and we are excoedinglj
glad to announce that prices will be way
dowa from this tlmo forward. The first cost
of sheet muslo la heavy, and wo have been
forced to sell hitherto at nearly ordinary
prloea. We shall now tell our new, popular,
splendid, unequalled songs at rates within the
reach of all.
Chairman Taubeneck says: "Your songs
aie the very best that have been prepared
for our people, Hope you will do all In your
power to push the work. It Is badly needed
in every state."
TVin Inni "Tho innM llllt I hill Ad
tot the Industrial millions will, If we mistake
. 3 A. - A- A I Jl 0 A . A a (tlA
DOI, UUU IttUB MX lUUUDltUUI Ul TUW W u
ranks of the people's t arty." .
PraaMATit. riinlm. nf th A Atlonal Farmers'
Alllanoe, says: "Tho are admirably adapted
ror cat paign books. '
The Journal of the Knights of Labor says:
Thev should be in the bands of all lovers of
liberty."
The ew rorum sajs: "xne senumentoi
these songs is grand."
These words of unsolicited praise Indloate
tho enthusiastic reception they are meeting
wua every wuoro.
vo you want songs inai wiu onng aown vnv
hnno&') IVa hiva tvn thut (ra MmllP IwlVfll
guns, loaded with fun and thunder, and each
wortn more in raaaiDg voiesman a nunureu
dry orators. They are: "We Have the Tariff
Yet," and "The Taxpayera Sett.e the Dills."
"Get Off the Earth' is equally popular.
Mrs. Mary Baird Finch, our Nebraska poet
says: "If I oould write anything as good as
'Get Off the Earth,' 1 sbeuld consider my
namo ana iame permanouuy eovBuiinueu.
"The Workersr Battle Hymn of Frtedom,"
Is the new Marseilalse hymn set to the won
derously thrilling French air. Nothing oould
be more moving and Inspiring. t
"dons or America ' is a new tune uae mw
Marseillaise, and wo believe equally stirring
and fine. "
Tho Alarm Tlpat. " mir tmtnnet call to
action. It is one of our best quartette cam-.
PBlgU nuuipi HUll ttruuDt-B UIUVII SUVIUIIHIBi
Tho Pin ir nf T.lhArt V la thr natrlntlo aonir
r,f iha tinnnln'u nartv. It will nulfikfill the
pulses of all who love their oountry and hate
oppression. The Farm Field and Stockman
seiectea.it irom au our net w presem vu weir
readers this week.
"Onrt Have the PtoDle" is another song
that will live long, it touches a popular
cDoni. ......
You are hearlnar a gocd deal about "An
HnnAflf rinllar " Wa have a sonir on that
subject (ready next week) which can't be
Dear, eena lor u at once.
Truth's ADBroachiDE Triumph" IS a Song
of tho "thousand years." the reign of right
eousness for which we are flghuag. It Is a
beautllUl, lnsnmng oomposiuoa, reirwniug
as a song of the angels to those who have be
come weary waiting. A .
' Tne Weakest Must Go to the Wall" gets la
some tremendous blows against the mony
land and transportation monopolists. -
a anit I.1a" ahnwii 11 n where trofl a
come from and how obtained. It Is red ho J.
"The Millennium Army" is Mrs. Leases
favorite and sue nas reason to minis it our
best.
Space lacks to tell the merit of the others.
KOW NOTICB: Any one of these songs
heretofore sold at 33 cents now can be had for
20 cents. Three songs, your choice, for 50
cents. Seven songs for 1100. The entire
series, sixteen ia number, lor
Order at once and get ready for the great
est, grandest, most enthusiastic campaign tne
country has known.
The following is a list of the songs :
The Workers' Battle Hymn of Freedom.
Right Shall Reign.
The Weakest Must Go to the Wall.
The Taxpayers settle the Bills.
Sons of America.
Get oft the Earth.
The Flag of Liberty.
The Coal Baron's Song.
Truth's Approaching Triumph,
Ged Save the People.
We have the Tariff Yet.
The Alarm Beat.
The Millennium Army.
That "Honest Dollar. ,T
Losses and Lies.
Tourists Trips.
Round trips to to the Pacific Coast.
Short trips to the Mountain Resorts
of Colorado.
The Great Salt Lake.
Yellowstone National Park the most
wonderful spot on this continent.
Puget Sound, the Mediterranean of
the Pacific coast.
And all reached via the Union Pacific
System. For detailed information call
on or address, ,
J. T. Mastin, C. T. A., 1044 O St.,
E. B. Slosson, Gen. Agt..
Lincoln, Neb.