1and, furthermore, not with every Matter, but with thoſe
wherewith it may be able ro execute the deſired operation.
as we ſee it verified by Experience, that the Acute and ſharp Angle
more apt to cut, than the Obtuſe; yet alwaies provided, that
the one and the other, be joyned with a Matter apt to cut, as
example, with Steel. Therefore, a Knife with a fine and
edge, cuts Bread or Wood with much eaſe, which it will not do,
the edge be blunt and thick: but he that will inſtead of Steel,
Wax, and mould it into a Knife, undoubtedly ſhall never know
effects of ſharp and blunt edges: becauſe neither of them will
the Wax being unable by reaſon of its flexibility, to overcome
hardneſs of the Wood and Bread. And, therefore, applying
like diſcourſe to our purpoſe, they ſay, that the difference of Figure
will ſhew different effects, touching Natation and Submerſion,
not conjoyned with any kind of Matter, but only with thoſe
which, by their Gravity, are apt to reſiſt the Velocity of the
whence he that would elect for the Matter, Cork or other light
unable, through its Levity, to ſuperate the Craſſitude of the
and of that Matter ſhould forme Solids of divers Figures, woulld
vain ſeek to find out what operation Figure hath in Natation or
merſion; becauſe all would ſwim, and that not through any property
of this or that Figure, but through the debility of the Matter,
ing ſo much Gravity, as is requiſite to ſuperate and overcome the
Denſity and Craſſitude of the water.
wherewith it may be able ro execute the deſired operation.
as we ſee it verified by Experience, that the Acute and ſharp Angle
more apt to cut, than the Obtuſe; yet alwaies provided, that
the one and the other, be joyned with a Matter apt to cut, as
example, with Steel. Therefore, a Knife with a fine and
edge, cuts Bread or Wood with much eaſe, which it will not do,
the edge be blunt and thick: but he that will inſtead of Steel,
Wax, and mould it into a Knife, undoubtedly ſhall never know
effects of ſharp and blunt edges: becauſe neither of them will
the Wax being unable by reaſon of its flexibility, to overcome
hardneſs of the Wood and Bread. And, therefore, applying
like diſcourſe to our purpoſe, they ſay, that the difference of Figure
will ſhew different effects, touching Natation and Submerſion,
not conjoyned with any kind of Matter, but only with thoſe
which, by their Gravity, are apt to reſiſt the Velocity of the
whence he that would elect for the Matter, Cork or other light
unable, through its Levity, to ſuperate the Craſſitude of the
and of that Matter ſhould forme Solids of divers Figures, woulld
vain ſeek to find out what operation Figure hath in Natation or
merſion; becauſe all would ſwim, and that not through any property
of this or that Figure, but through the debility of the Matter,
ing ſo much Gravity, as is requiſite to ſuperate and overcome the
Denſity and Craſſitude of the water.
An objection
gainſt the
riment in Wax.
gainſt the
riment in Wax.
Its needfull, therefore, if wee would ſee the effect wrought by
Diverſity of Figure, firſt to make choice of a Matter of its
apt to penetrate the Craſſitude of the water. And, for this
they have made choice of ſuch a Matter, as fit, that being readily
duced into Sphericall Figure, goes to the Bottom; and it is Ebony
of which they afterwards making a ſmall Board or Splinter, as thin
a Lath, have illuſtrated how that this, put upon the Surface of the
water, reſts there without deſcending to the Bottom: and making, on
the otherſide, of the ſame wood a Ball, no leſs than a hazell Nut,
they ſhew, that this ſwims not, but deſcendes. From which
ment, they think they may frankly conclude, that the Breadth ofthe
Figure in the flat Lath or Board, is the cauſe of its not deſcendingto
the Bottom, foraſmuch as a Ball of the ſame Matter, not
from the Board in any thing but in Figure, ſubmergeth in the
water to the Bottom. The diſcourſe and the Experiment hath
ſo much of probability and likely hood of truth in it, that it would be
no wonder, if many perſwaded by a certain curſory
ſhould yield credit to it; nevertheleſs, I think I am able to diſcover,
how that it is not free from falacy.
Diverſity of Figure, firſt to make choice of a Matter of its
apt to penetrate the Craſſitude of the water. And, for this
they have made choice of ſuch a Matter, as fit, that being readily
duced into Sphericall Figure, goes to the Bottom; and it is Ebony
of which they afterwards making a ſmall Board or Splinter, as thin
a Lath, have illuſtrated how that this, put upon the Surface of the
water, reſts there without deſcending to the Bottom: and making, on
the otherſide, of the ſame wood a Ball, no leſs than a hazell Nut,
they ſhew, that this ſwims not, but deſcendes. From which
ment, they think they may frankly conclude, that the Breadth ofthe
Figure in the flat Lath or Board, is the cauſe of its not deſcendingto
the Bottom, foraſmuch as a Ball of the ſame Matter, not
from the Board in any thing but in Figure, ſubmergeth in the
water to the Bottom. The diſcourſe and the Experiment hath
ſo much of probability and likely hood of truth in it, that it would be
no wonder, if many perſwaded by a certain curſory
ſhould yield credit to it; nevertheleſs, I think I am able to diſcover,
how that it is not free from falacy.
An
ment in Ebany,
brought to
prove the
timent in Wax.
ment in Ebany,
brought to
prove the
timent in Wax.
Beginning, therefore, to examine one by one, all the particulars