springs are moved, in correspondence with the irregularities, while all above, by the inertia of the matter, have a soft and steady advance.-Arnott. Again, springs of carriages convert all percussion into mere increase of pressure: that is to say, the collision of two hard bodies is changed by the interposition of one that is elastic, into a mere accession of weight. It is probable, that under certain modifications, springs may be applied with great advantage to the heaviest waggons. In surmounting obstacles, a carriage with its load being lifted over, the springs allow the wheels to rise, while the weights suspended on them are scarcely moved from their horizontal level. Why are "under-springs" so advantageous in very modern carriages? Because they insulate from the effects of shocks, all the parts, excepting the wheels and axletrees themselves. When only the body of the carriage is on springs, the horses have still to rattle the heavy frame-work below it, over all irregularities. Why, in descending a hilly road, is it common to lock or fix one of the wheels of a carriage? Because, the friction is then increased, and there is less chance of a rapid descent; the horses having then to pull nearly as much as on a level road, with the wheel free. We have noticed a very effectual mode of "locking" the hind wheels of carriages, on the continent, by screwing a bar transversely, against the outer rim of the wheels; by this means, the wheels may be either partially or wholly locked, according to a powerful screw, in the centre of the bar. This mode is adopted by the Paris diligences; we first noticed it in a Swiss calêche, of great strength. The bar is rather unsightly, but our excellence in the construction of wheelcarriages should not lead us always to look for ele gance, where convenience is a main point, as in a vehicle for travelling. Why should a road up a very steep hill, be made to wind or zig-zag all the way? Because, to reach a given height, the ease of the pull is greater, exactly as the road is made longer. Why is it important to make roads as level as possible? Because, a horse drawing on a road where there is a rise of one foot in twenty, is really lifting one twentieth of the load, as well as overcoming the friction, and other resistance of the carriage.-Arnott. THE WEDGE. Why are cutting instruments, knives, razors, the axe, &c. examples of the wedge? Because at the same time that we pull them lengthwise, we press them directly forward, against the object. A saw, too, is a series of wedges. Why does a razor, (if drawn lightly over the hand) dart into the flesh, whereas, if pressed against the hand with considerable force, it will not enter? Because of the vibration of particles produced by the drawing action, which enables the razor to insinuate itself more easily. We witnessed an example, only a few days since, when a bon vivant, in a fit of mischievous ecstasy, seized a pointless table knife, and passed it very lightly down the back of his friend's coat. The injury was not immediately seen, but the cloth proved cut, from the collar to the waist; whereas, had the knife been heavily pressed against the cloth, the coat would have escaped injury, and the gay fellow the expense of his folly. Why is the wedge so important an agent in the arts and manufactures? Because it exerts enormous force through a very small space. Thus, it is resorted to for splitting masses of timber, or stones. Ships are raised in docks, by wedges driven under their keels. The wedge is the principal agent in the oil-mill. The seeds, from which the oil is to be extracted, are introduced into hairbags, and placed between planes of hard-wood. Wedges inserted between the bags, are driven, by allowing heavy beams to fall on them. The pressure thus excited is so intense, that the seeds in the bags are formed into a mass nearly as solid as wood.-Lardner. The details of an extensive oil mill near Garrat are as follow:-A magnificent water-wheel, of 30 feet, turns a main shaft, which gives motion to a pair of vertical stones, raises the driving-beams, and turns a band, which carries the seed in small buckets from the floor to the hopper. The shock on the entire nervous system, produced by the noise of the driving-beams as they fall on the wedges, is not to be described. The sense of hearing for the time is wholly destroyed, and the powers of voice and articulation are vainly exerted. The noise is oppressive, though a rebound, comparatively tuneful, takes place, till the wedge is driven home; but afterwards the blows fall dead, and produce a painful jar on the nerves, affecting the auditor for some hours with a sense of general lassitude. THE SCREW. Why does a screw enable a small force to produce such prodigious effects? Because every turn of the screw carries it forward in a fixed nut, or draws a movable nut along upon it, by exactly the distance between two turns of its thread: this distance, therefore, is the space described by the resistance, while the force moves in the circumference of the circle described by the handle of the screw; and the disparity between these lengths or spaces is often as a hundred or more to one.-Arnott. Why may the screw be called a winding wedge? Because it has the same relation to a straight wedge, that a road winding up a hill or tower has to a straight road of the same length and acclivity. Why is the screw, in some respects, a disadvantageous contrivance? Because it produces so much friction, as to consume a considerable part of the force used in working it. Why do mathematical instrument makers mark divisions on their work with the screw? Because it can easily be made with a hundred turns of its thread in the space of an inch, and at perfectly equal distances from each other. If we suppose such a screw to be pulling forward a plate of metal, or the edge of a circle, over which a sharp-pointed steel marker is placed, which moves up and down perpendicularly, the marker, if let down once for every turn of the screw, will make just as many lines on the plate; but, if made to mark at every hundredth or thousandth of a turn of the screw, which it will do with equal accuracy, it may draw a hundred thousand distinct lines in one inch. Why may a printing press be said to do the work of fifty men? Because a solitary workman, with his screw or other engine, can press a sheet of paper against types, so as to take off a clear impression; to do which without the press, the direct push of fifty men would be insufficient; and these fifty men would be idle and superfluous, except just at the instant of pressing, which recurs only now and then. This, and the two preceding illustrations, are almost literally from Dr. Arnott's works, in which the importance of having correct notions on the subject of the simple machines, or mechanical powers, is illustrated by many other familiar examples. THE PULLEY. Why is the pulley an advantageous machine? the weight (let it be supposed ten pounds) is equally supported by each end of the rope, and that a man holding up one end, only bears half of it, or five pounds; but to raise the weight one foot, he must draw up the two feet of rope; therefore, with the pulley, he lifts five pounds two feet, where he would have to lift ten pounds one foot without the pulley. Why have fixed pullies no mechanical advantage? Because the weight just moves as fast as the power; yet such pullies are of great use in changing the direction of forces. A sailor, without moving from the deck of his ship, by means of such a pulley, may hoist the sail or the signal flag to the top of the loftiest mast. Why is the pulley on ship-board called a block? Because of the block or wooden mass which surrounds the wheel or wheels of the pulley. Hence the machinery for making these pullies is called block-machinery. Of that at Portsmouth, invented by Brunel, there is a set of magnificent models in the possession of the Navy Board. They consist of eight separate machines, which work in succession, so as to begin and finish off a two-sheaved block four inches in length. Mr. Faraday, in a lecture at the Royal Institution in 1829, stated generally, that the block-machinery of Portsmouth, by adjustments, could manufacture blocks of one hundred different sizes; could, with thirty men, make one hundred per hour; and, from the time of its completion in 1804-5, to that day, had required no repairs from Maudslay, the original manufacturer. The total cost was £46,000, and the saving per annum, in time of war, was £25,000, after allowing interest for capital, and paying the expense of all repairs. Why is a chair or bucket, attached to one end of a rope which is carried over a fixed pulley, used as a fireescape? Because a person, by laying hold of the rope on the other side, may, at will, descend to a depth equal to |