Meteorology
This essay offers mechanical explanations of atmospheric phenomena: clouds, rain, snow, winds and rainbows belong within a unified natural investigation.
Understanding the text
The second essay of 1637 uses “meteors” broadly for phenomena of the air, not merely shooting stars.
Key points
- 01
Matter
Particle shapes and movements replace occult qualities as explanatory principles.
- 02
Rainbow
Refraction and reflection support a geometrical analysis of the appearance of colors.
- 03
Experiments
Investigating droplets and artificial devices connects explanatory models with controlled observation.
How to read it
Start with the eighth discourse on the rainbow. Distinguish the successful geometrical explanation from other material hypotheses that did not all survive later physics.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗