A Catechism of Familiar Things - Anonymous

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END.

       Table of Contents

       Table of Contents

      What is Dew?

      Moisture collected from the atmosphere by the action of cold. During the day, the powerful heat of the sun causes to arise from the earth and water a moist vapor, which, after the sun sinks below the horizon, is condensed by the cold, and falls in the form of dew. Dews are more copious in the Spring and Autumn than at any other season; in warm countries than in cold ones: because of the sudden changes of temperature. Egypt abounds in dews all the summer; for the air being too hot to condense the vapors in the day-time, they never gather into clouds and form rain.

      Horizon, the line which bounds the view on all sides, so that the earth and sky appear to meet. A Greek word, from the verb signifying to mark boundaries.

      Temperature, degree of heat or cold.

      Condense, to cause the particles of a body to approach or unite more closely.

      

      What are its uses?

      It cools and refreshes the vegetable creation, and prevents it from being destroyed by the heat of the sun. All hot countries where there is little or no rain are therefore blessed with this provision by the all-bountiful Creator, to render them luxuriant and inhabitable; and the dews which fall are so copious, that the earth is as deeply soaked with them during the night as if a heavy rain had fallen. For this reason also it is, that we so often read in the Bible of the "dew of Heaven" being promised to the Israelites as a signal favor.

      Luxuriant, fertile, flourishing.

      Signal, remarkable, eminent.

      From what does the vapor originate?

      Vapor is water, combined with a still greater quantity of caloric—that is, an imponderable and subtile form of matter, which causes the sensation of heat; and which, driving asunder the particles of the water, renders it aëriform.

      Imponderable, without sensible weight.

      Subtile, thin, not dense, or compact.

      Particle, a small portion of matter.

      Aëriform, having the form of air.

      What is Water?

      The fluid which covers more than three-fifths of the surface of our globe, and which is necessary for the life and health of the animal and vegetable creation; for without water there would be neither rain nor dew, and everything would perish. It is likewise a necessary beverage for man and the inferior animals.

      Beverage, drink, liquor for drinking.

      In how many states do we find Water?

      In four: 1st, solid, as in ice, snow, hail, &c.; 2d, fluid, as in its common form; 3d, aëriform, as in steam; and 4th, in a state of union with other matter. Its most simple state is that of ice, which is water deprived of a certain portion of its caloric: crystallization then takes place, and the water becomes solid and is called ice.

      Crystallization, the process by which the parts of a solid body, separated by solution or fusion, are again brought into the solid form. If the process is slow, the figure assumed is regular and bounded by plane and smooth surfaces.

      Solution, the diffusion of a solid through some liquid.

      Fusion, melting, or rendering fluid by heat.

      From what cause is the Water deprived of its caloric?

      From the coldness of the atmosphere: underneath the poles of our globe it is mostly solid; there it is similar to the hardest rocks, and may be cut with a chisel, like stone or marble. This great solidity is occasioned by the low temperature of the surrounding air; and in very cold countries ice may be ground so fine as to be blown away by the wind, and will still be ice.

      Poles, the extremities or ends of the axis, an imaginary line, supposed to be drawn through the centre of the earth; or when applied to the heavens, the two points directly over them.

      Is ice the only instance of Water existing in a state of solidity?

      No; it is found in a solid state in many minerals, as in marble, &c., and is then called water of Crystallization. It is essential, in many cases, to their solidity and transparency.

      Essential, necessary.

      Transparency, clearness, the power of transmitting light.

      Does Nature decompose Water in any of her operations?

      Yes: every living vegetable has the power of decomposing water, by a secret process peculiar to itself. Fish, too, and all cold-blooded amphibious animals are gifted with the same power.

      Decomposing, separating a mixed body into its several parts.

      Amphibious, able to live both in water and out of it.

      Of what use is this power to vegetables?

      The water which they decompose affords them nourishment for the support of their vital juices, and enables them, by combining the fluid gases which compose it with those of the air and the soil, to form their different products; while the superfluous gas is abundantly given out by their leaves, to refresh the spent air, and render it wholesome for the animals that breathe it.

      Vital, belonging to life, necessary to existence.

      Superfluous, unnecessary, not wanted.

      What is Rain?

      The condensed aqueous vapors raised in the atmosphere by the sun and wind, converted into clouds, which fall in rain, snow, hail, or mist: their falling is occasioned by their own weight in a collision produced by contrary currents of wind, from the clouds passing into a colder part of the air, or by electricity. If the vapors are more copious, and rise a little higher, they form a mist or fog, which is visible to the eye; higher still they produce rain. Hence we may account for the changes of the weather: why a cold summer is always a wet one—a warm, a dry one.

      Aqueous, watery; consisting of water.

      Collision, a striking together, a clash, a meeting.

      Electricity, a natural agent existing in all bodies (see page 18).

      What seasons are more liable to rain than others?

      The Spring and Autumn are generally the most rainy seasons, the vapors rise more plentifully in Spring; and in the Autumn, as the sun recedes from us and the cold increases, the vapors, which lingered above us during the summer heats, fall more easily.

      Recede, to fall back, to retreat.

      What is Snow?

      Rain congealed by cold in the atmosphere, which causes it to fall to the earth in white flakes. Snow fertilizes the ground by defending the roots of plants from the intenser cold of the air and the piercing winds.

      Congealed, turned by the force of cold from a fluid to a solid state; hardened.

      Fertilize, to render fruitful.

      Intenser, raised to a higher degree, more powerful.

      What is Hail?

      Drops

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