The Loadstone (Natural Magnet) on Superphysics

MAGNETICK Motions

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Book 1, I talked about:

the magnet-stone and its variety
its poles and its known faculties
the properties of iron
a magnetick substance common to iron and the earth

Here I explain magnetical motions, and their fuller philosophy.

The Magnetic Coition, Attraction of Amber

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Physicians, with the authority of Galen, wanted to confirm the belief in the attraction of purgative medicines through the juices.

What Causes Electricks?

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hairs and twigs move towards amber and towards diamond not because they are hairs, but because they have air in them which:

The Effluvia

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Quæstiones Platonicæ Plutarch says that there is something flammable or something having the nature of breath in amber.

This is from the attrition of the surface being emitted from its relaxed pores attracts bodies.

Opinions of others on Magnetick Coition, which they call Attraction

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Discussion having now been made concerning electricks, the causes of magnetick coition must be set forth. We say coition, not attraction[146].

The word ‘attraction’ unfortunately crept into magnetick philosophy from the ignorance of the ancients.

What is Magnetick Force & Form and the cause of the Coition?

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Relinquishing the opinions of others on the attraction of loadstone, we shall now show the reason of that coition and the translatory nature of that motion.

There are 2 kinds of bodies, which seem to allure bodies with motions manifest to our senses:

How Iron Gains Allure

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When iron is smelted out of its own ore, or steel out of its ore, out of loadstone, the material is loosed by the force of the fire.

It flows away and iron as well as steel flow out from their dross and are separated from it.

How the Power dwells in the Loadstone

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Book 1 showed:

that a loadstone attracts loadstone, iron and other magnetical bodies
with what strength the magnetick coition is ordered

How is that vigour disposed in a magnetick substance?

How magnetick Iron and loadstones conform themselves to terrella

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Coition of those bodies which are divided, and do not naturally cohære, if they are free, occurs through another kind of motion.

A terrella sends out in an orbe its powers in proportion to its vigour and quality. But when iron or any other magnetick of convenient magnitude comes within its orbe of virtue, it is allured; but the nearer it comes to the body, the more quickly it runs up to it.

The geography of the Earth, and of the Terrella

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What are magnetick circles and limits?

Astronomers settled upon certain circles and definite limits in the sky in order to:

understand and observe methodically the motion of the planets and the revolution of the heavens
accurately describe the celestial attire of the fixed stars
delineate the varied face of the earth and the beauty of its districts

But we differ from them.

Parallels and the Magnetick Horizon

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Chapter 11. Parallels

In parallel circles, the same strength and equal power are perceived everywhere, when various magneticks are placed on one and the same parallel either on the earth or on a terrella.

Why at the Pole itself the Coition is stronger

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Why at the Pole itself the Coition is stronger than in the other parts intermediate between the æquator and the pole and on the proportion of forces of the coition in various parts of the earth and of the terrella.

The highest power of alluring exists in the pole. It is weaker and more languid in the parts adjacent to the æquator.

Movements take place by the Magnetical Vigour though solid bodies lie between; and on the interposition of iron plates

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Float a piece of iron wire on water by transfixing it through a suitable cork.

Or set a versatory piece of iron on a pin or in a seaman’s compass (a magnet being brought near or moved about underneath), it is put into a state of motion.

The Iron Cap of a Loadstone, with which it is armed at the pole

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Conceive a small round plate, concave in shape, of the breadth of a digit to be applied to the convex polar surface of a loadstone and skilfully attached.

Or a piece of iron shaped like an acorn, rising from the base into an obtuse cone, hollowed out a little and fitted to the surface of the stone, to be tied to the loadstone. Let the iron be the best steel, smoothed, shining, and even.

An armed Loadstone does not endow an excited piece of Iron with greater vigour than an unarmed

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Suppose there are two pieces of iron.

One has been excited by an armed loadstone.

The other by one unarmed.

Apply to one of them another piece of iron of a weight just proportional to its strength.

Magneticks in conjunction make one magnetick

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

An armed Loadstone draws Iron no more than an unarmed one.

An armed one is more strongly united to iron is shown by means of an armed loadstone and a polished cylinder of iron.

Magnetick Force causes motion towards unity, and binds firmly together bodies which are united

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Magnetick fragments cohære within their strength well and harmoniously together. Pieces of iron in the presence of a loadstone (even if they are not touching the loadstone) run together, seek one another anxiously and embrace one another, and when joined are as if they were cemented.

Exaltation of the power of the Magnet

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

One loadstone far surpasses another in power, since one draws iron of almost its own weight, another can hardly stir some shreds. Whatever things, whether animals or plants, are endowed with life need some sort of nourishment, by which their strength not only persists but grows firmer and more vigorous.

Why is there more love between iron and loadstone?

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Why is there more love between iron and loadstone than between loadstone and loadstone, or between iron and iron, when close to the loadstone, within its orbe of virtue?

Magnet attracts magnet, not in every part and on every side with equal conditions, as iron, but at one and a fixed point.

The Centre of the Magnetick Virtues in the Earth and in Terrella

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Centre of the Magnetick Virtues:

in the earth is the centre of the earth
in a terrella is the centre of the stone

Rays of magnetick virtue spread out in every direction in an orbe.

Variety of Strength due to Quantity or Mass

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Quite similar in potency are those stones which are of the same mine, and not corrupted by adjacent ores or veins.

Nevertheless that which excels in size shows greater powers, since it seizes greater weights and has a wider orbe of virtue.

Certain Problems and Magnetick Experiments about the Coition, and Separation, and regular Motion of bodies magnetical

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Equal loadstones come together with equal incitation.

Also magnetick bodies of iron, if alike in all respects, come together when excited with similar incitation.

Bodies of iron not excited by a loadstone, if they are alike and not weighed down by their bulk, move towards one another with equal motion.

The Varying Ratio of Strength, and of the Motion of coition, within the orbe of virtue

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Should a very large weight, which at a very small distance is drawn towards a loadstone, be divided into ever so many equal parts, and should the radius of the orbe of magnetick attraction be divided into the same number of parts, the like named parts of the weight will correspond to the intermediate parts of the radius.

Why a Loadstone should be stronger in its poles in a different ratio; as well in the Northern regions as in the Southern

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The extraordinary magnetick virtue of the earth is *remarkably demonstrated by the subtility of the following magnetical experiment.

Let there be given a terrella of no contemptible power, or a long loadstone with equal cones as polar extremities.

How a more robust Loadstone may be recognized.

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Very powerful loadstones sometimes lift into the air a weight of iron equal to their own; a weak one barely attracts a slender wire.

Those therefore are more robust which appeal to and retain larger bodies, if there is no defect in their form, or the pole of the stone is not suitably moved up.

Cases of Attraction in other Bodies

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The flame of sulphur is said to seek iron and stones.

Bodies which mutually repel one another

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Writers who have written on the attractive and replusive forces have created classes for natural objects on the basis of sympathy and antipathy.

They say that:

like things attract for the sake of preservation
unlike and contrary things repel for the same reason

This is evident in the reaction of many things.