we say they have been heated. Some molecules, such as
carbon, appear to be capable of stopping undulations of all wave lengths
and to be heated by them; others are only affected by undulations of
particular wave lengths, or of wave lengths between special limits. In
this case it is a species of sympathetic vibration. The distinction
between the molecular vibrations, and the undulations in ether that
result from them, must be kept in mind, as must also the effect of the
undulations that fall upon other molecules. To one the name _heat_ is
applied, to the other the name of _radiant energy_ is given; and it
matters not whether the undulations be long or short, the same molecule
may give out both.

Now let a prism be placed in the path of such rays of different wave
length from a single molecule, and what is called the dispersive action
of the prism will separate the rays in the order of their wave lengths,
the longer waves being less refracted than the shorter ones; but the
energy of any one of these will depend upon the _amplitude of
undulation_, which in turn will depend upon the amplitude of vibration
of the part of the molecule that originated it, but in general the
longer waves have greater amplitude, though not necessarily so.
Consequently, if a thermopile be so placed as to receive these various
rays, and their energy be measured by its absorption on the face of the
pile, each one would be found to heat it, the longer waves more than the
shorter ones, simply because the amplitude is greater, but for no other
reason, for it is possible, and in certain cases is the fact, that a
short wave has as much or more energy than a longer one. If the eye
should take the place of the thermopile it would be found that some of
these rays did not affect it at all, while some would produce the
sensation of light. This would be the case with any waves having a wave
length between the limits of, say, 1-37,000 of an inch and 1-60,000 of
an inch; any shorter waves will not produce the sensation of light. If
instead of the eye a piece of paper washed in a solution of the chloride
of silver should be placed where the dispersed rays should fall upon it,
it would be found that only the shorter waves would affect it at all,
and among these shorter ones would be some of those rays which the eye
could not perceive at all.

It was formerly inferred from these facts that the heat rays, the light
rays, and the chemical rays were different in qua