THE SOUND OF LIGHT.

Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 354, 16 August 1890, Page 8

THE SOUND OF LIGHT.

One of the most wonderful discoveries in science that have baen made within tho last year cr two is the faet'that a beam of light produces sound (snys tho American Art Journal). A beam of sunlight is thrown through a lens on a glass vessel that contains lampblack, ' coloured silk or worsted or other subt-tauccs. A disk, having plits or openings cut in it, is made to revolve swiftly in this beam of liprht, ho as toioutit up, thus making alternate flashes of lijrh": and shadow. On putting the ear to the glass vessel, strange sounds aro heard so long as the flushing beam is falling on tho vessel. Recently a more wmderful discovery has been made. A beam of sunlight ia made to pass through a prism, 60 :as to produce what is called the solar spectrum, or rainbow. The disc U framed, and tho coloured light of tiio rainbow is made to t>rcnk through it. Now plaoe the ear to the vessel containing 1 tho silk, wool, or other material. Aa the coloured ligMs of the spectrum full upon it, eouada will be <riven *by different parts of the spectrum, and there will be Hilcncc in o'iier part.s. For iustmce, if the vc-fwl contains red worHted, end the green light'fLushes upon it, loud soun£:i will ibe given. Only feeble sounds will be heard -whon tho red imd blue parta of the ■rainbow fall upon the vepfiel, and orf»er /Colours make no sound at all. Green nil3w .give sound best m red light. Ev/jry kind oi. awrterial gives mora or teas sound iv different .colours, and utters no sound iv others. The discovery is a strange one, and it is th ought piore wonderful things will come from It.