Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Title in the Series
- CHAPTER I Nature of the Argument
- CHAPTER II Argument in favour of Design from the changing of Laws in Natural Events
- CHAPTER III Argument to show that the Doctrines in the preceding Chapter do not lead to Fatalism
- CHAPTER IV On the Account of the Creation, in the First Chapter of Genesis
- CHAPTER V Further View of the same Subject
- CHAPTER VI Of the Desire of Immortality
- CHAPTER VII On Time
- CHAPTER VIII Argument from Laws intermitting—on the Nature of Miracles
- CHAPTER IX On the permanent Impression of our Words and Actions on the Globe we inhabit
- CHAPTER X On Hume's Argument against Miracles
- CHAPTER XI À priori Argument in favour of the Occurrence of Miracles
- CHAPTER XII Thoughts on the Nature of Future Punishments
- CHAPTER XIII Reflections on Free Will
- CHAPTER XIV Thoughts on the Origin of Evil
- CONCLUSION
- APPENDIX
- NOTE A On the great Law which regulates Matter
- NOTE B On the Calculating Engine
- NOTE C Extract from the Theory of Probabilities of La Place
- NOTE D Note to Chap. VIII. on Miracles
- NOTE E Note to Chap. X. on Hume's Argument against Miracles
- NOTE F On the Consequences of Central Heat
- NOTE G On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
- NOTE H Tables showing the Expansion of Beds of Granite variously heated
- NOTE I Extracts from Letters of Sir John Herschel
- NOTE K On the Elevation of Beaches by Tides
- NOTE L On Ripple Mark
- NOTE M On the Age of Strata, as inferred from the Rings of Trees embedded in them
- NOTE N On a Method of multiplying Illustrations from Wood-Cuts
- CORRECTIONS
NOTE L - On Ripple Mark
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Title in the Series
- CHAPTER I Nature of the Argument
- CHAPTER II Argument in favour of Design from the changing of Laws in Natural Events
- CHAPTER III Argument to show that the Doctrines in the preceding Chapter do not lead to Fatalism
- CHAPTER IV On the Account of the Creation, in the First Chapter of Genesis
- CHAPTER V Further View of the same Subject
- CHAPTER VI Of the Desire of Immortality
- CHAPTER VII On Time
- CHAPTER VIII Argument from Laws intermitting—on the Nature of Miracles
- CHAPTER IX On the permanent Impression of our Words and Actions on the Globe we inhabit
- CHAPTER X On Hume's Argument against Miracles
- CHAPTER XI À priori Argument in favour of the Occurrence of Miracles
- CHAPTER XII Thoughts on the Nature of Future Punishments
- CHAPTER XIII Reflections on Free Will
- CHAPTER XIV Thoughts on the Origin of Evil
- CONCLUSION
- APPENDIX
- NOTE A On the great Law which regulates Matter
- NOTE B On the Calculating Engine
- NOTE C Extract from the Theory of Probabilities of La Place
- NOTE D Note to Chap. VIII. on Miracles
- NOTE E Note to Chap. X. on Hume's Argument against Miracles
- NOTE F On the Consequences of Central Heat
- NOTE G On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
- NOTE H Tables showing the Expansion of Beds of Granite variously heated
- NOTE I Extracts from Letters of Sir John Herschel
- NOTE K On the Elevation of Beaches by Tides
- NOTE L On Ripple Mark
- NOTE M On the Age of Strata, as inferred from the Rings of Trees embedded in them
- NOTE N On a Method of multiplying Illustrations from Wood-Cuts
- CORRECTIONS
Summary
The small waves raised on the surface of the water, by the passage of a slight breeze, are called Ripple; and a series of marks, very similar in appearance, which are sometimes seen at low water on the flat part of a sea-beach formed of fine sand, are called ripple-marks. Such marks occur in various strata, and are regarded as evidence of their having formed beneath the sea. Similar appearances occur when a strong wind drives over the face of a sandy plain.
It appears that two fluids of different specific gravity, the lighter passing over the surface of the former, always concur in the formation of ripple. It seems also, that the lines of ripple-mark are at right angles to the direction of the current which forms them.
If a fluid like air pass over the surface of perfectly quiescent water, in a plain absolutely parallel, it will have no effect; but if it impinge on the surface of that water with the slightest inclination, it will raise a small wave, which will be propagated by undulations to great distances. If the direction of the wind is very nearly parallel to the surface of the water, this first wave, being raised above the general surface, will protect that part of the water immediately beyond it from the full effect of the wind, which will therefore again impinge upon the water at a little distance: and, this concurring with the undulation, will tend to produce another small wave, and thus, again, new waves will be produced.
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- Information
- The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise , pp. 222 - 225Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1837