The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

INORGANIC ELEMENTS. 95of nature, as these are recognized in operation,admitting of calculation as to rate of movementon the one hand, and relative amountof force on the other. Computations of thiakind were necessarily involved in research connectedwith the movements of the heavenlybodies. When astronomical theory had beenmatured and a truli scientific understandingof the solar system had been reached, physicalscience had next to deal with the more generalproblem raised by the contemplated forcesof nature, having a reference at once widerand more minute. It is not possible here todo more than give a very summary view ofthe doctrine of energy, its mutations, dissipation,and conservation, as developed throughstudy of the laws of gravitation, electricity,light, heat, etc., and now generally accepted.An outline will, however, suffice for an understandingof the general conclusions.Energy is the term now employed to designateevery form of power belonging to thephysical world capable of doing work, and ofbeing estimated according to the comparativeamount of work it can perform. The wholephenomena of motion thus belong to this departmentof inquiry. The first distinction