THE

ATMOSPHERE

AND

ATMOSPHERICAL PHENOMENA.

CHECA

BY

THOMAS DICK, LL.D.

LONDON:

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY:

Instituted 1799.

CONTENTS

PART I.

THE NATURE, PROPERTIES, AND BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

OF THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE SYSTEM OF NATURE,

AND THE EVIDENCES WHICH ITS CONSTITUTION AF-

FORDS OF THE WISDOM AND BENEFICENCE OF THE

CREATOR.

page 7

INTRODUCTION.—The works of God deserve our serious

contemplation-His wisdom displayed in the various

scenes connected with sublunary nature-His power

displayed in the luminaries of heaven-His perfections

manifested even in the invisible regions of nature-

Atmosphere an important appendage to our globe-

Outline of subjects in reference to the atmosphere

CHAPTER I.

Proofs that air is a material substance-Various experi-

ments illustrative of this position-It produces sound,

and shows a resistance to bodies passing through it

It excludes all other bodies from the place it occupies

-A common bellows shows the materiality of air-Its

waves frequently become an object of sight

CHAPTER II.

The weight and pressure of the atmosphere, and the

quantity of matter it contains-Comparative weight of

air and water-Experiments illustrative of its pressure

- Barometer, and the mode of its action-Pascal's cele-

brated experiment with water and wine, to prove the

pressure of the atmosphere-Remarks and reflections

in reference to such experiments-Atmospheric pres-

sure on the body of a man-This pressure varies-

Weight of the whole atmosphere-Air decreases in

density as we ascend to the higher regions-Scenes

beheld from balloons-The pressure of the atmosphere

illustrated by a great variety of simple experiments page 19

page 15