by William Gilbert

Name: On the Magnet — Book III. Chap. 1.
Author: by William Gilbert

On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

Summary

“On the Magnet — Book III. Chap. 1.”, published in 1900, is a work by by William Gilbert. It explores elements such as poles, loadstone and magneticks.

Quotes from On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (by William Gilbert)

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ Thus it is always customary with mortals, that they despise things near home, whilst foreign and distant things are dear and prized. But we study the earth itself and observe in it the cause of so great an effect. The earth, as the common mother, has these causes inclosed in her innermost parts; in accordance with her rule, position, condition, verticity, poles, æquator, horizons, meridians, centre, circumference, diameter, and the nature of the whole interior of her substance, must all magnetical motions be discussed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ All those who have written before us about these rotations have left us their opinions so briefly, so meagrely, and with such hesitating judgment that they seem hardly likely ever to persuade anyone, or even to be able to satisfy themselves; and all their petty reasons are rejected by the more prudent as useless, uncertain, and absurd, being supported by no proofs or arguments; whence also magnetick science, being all the more neglected and not understood, has been in exile. ”

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Source: Wikisource

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ The earth has been ordered by the highest Artificer and by nature in such a way that it should have parts dissimilar in position, bounds of the whole and complete body, ennobled by certain functions, by which it might itself remain in a definite direction. For just as a loadstone, when it is floated on water in a suitable vessel, or is hung by slender threads in the air, by its implanted verticity conforms its poles to the poles of the common mother in accordance with magnetick laws ”

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Source: Wikisource

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ The iron conceives vigour from the loadstone and is influenced by the magnetical motions. Wherefore true direction is the motion of a magnetick body in regard to the verticity of the earth, the natures of both agreeing and working together toward a natural position and unity. For indeed we have found out at length, by many experiments and in many ways, that there is a disposing nature, moving them together by reason of their various positions by one form that is common to both, and that in all magnetick substances there is attraction and repulsion. ”

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Source: Wikisource

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ For both the stone [200] and the magnetick iron arrange themselves by inclination and declination, according to the common position of their nature and the earth. And the force of the earth by the virtue of the whole, by attracting toward the poles, and repelling, arranges all magneticks which are unfixed and loose. For in all cases all magneticks conform themselves to the globe of the earth in the same ways and by the same laws by which another loadstone or any magneticks do to a terrella. ”

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Source: Wikisource

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ The horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field is not equally strong all over the globe, and the sluggishness of the needle's return to its position of rest is not due to the supporting pin becoming blunt with wear. ”

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Source: Wikisource

by William Gilbert, On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (1900)

“ This may also be shown experimentally by the versatory iron of a small sun-dial placed on a very short pin set perpendicular to the surface of the stone, for the iron when touched by a loadstone points toward the poles of the stone and leaves the poles of the earth; for the general and remoter cause is overcome by the particular and powerful cause which is so near at hand. Magnetick bodies have of themselves an inclination toward the position of the earth and are influenced by a terrella. ”

by William Gilbert

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Quotes from On the Magnet — Book III. Chap… (by William Gilbert)

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