Round the Moon · Chapter
Hyperbola or Parabola explained
Barbicane, Nicholl, and Michel Ardan debate the trajectory of their projectile, discussing whether it will follow a parabolic or hyperbolic curve, which would carry them indefinitely into space.
What happens
Barbicane, Nicholl, and Michel Ardan debate the trajectory of their projectile, discussing whether it will follow a parabolic or hyperbolic curve, which would carry them indefinitely into space. Their scientific argument is interrupted by the sudden appearance of a massive bolis (fireball) that nearly destroys them, bursting into a spectacular shower of fragments. The chapter ends with the travelers realizing they will never strike the moon or Earth, facing an uncertain fate in the void.
Themes in this chapter
Scientific Exploration and Discovery
The chapter centers on a scientific debate about projectile trajectories (parabola vs. hyperbola) and observations of lunar phenomena, highlighting the travelers' commitment to inquiry despite their peril.
The Sublime and the Unknown
The sudden appearance of the bolis and its spectacular explosion evoke awe and terror, emphasizing the vast, uncontrollable forces of the cosmos.
The Role of Chance and the Impossible
The travelers' fate hinges on the unpredictable trajectory of the projectile and the chance encounter with the bolis, underscoring the role of randomness in their journey.
Characters to notice
- Impey Barbicane
Leads the scientific discussion on the projectile's trajectory, calculates the bolis's size and speed, and remains calm in the face of danger.
- Captain Nicholl
Engages in the debate over parabola vs. hyperbola, provides definitions, and cries out when the bolis bursts.
- Michel Ardan
Jokes about the scientific terms, proposes the projectile might fall on the moon like an aerolite, and exclaims when the bolis illuminates the invisible moon.
Key passages
“The projectile has the choice between two mathematical curves, and it will follow the one or the other according to the velocity with which it is animated, and which I cannot now estimate.”
Barbicane explains that the projectile's path depends on its speed, which he cannot determine, and that it will be either a parabola or an hyperbola.
Barbicane acknowledges the uncertainty of their trajectory due to unknown velocity.
“It is like a moon, but a burning moon of almost unbearable brilliancy, outlined as it was on the total obscurity of space.”
The bolis appears as a brilliantly glowing sphere in the dark void, resembling a moon on fire.
Description of the bolis's appearance, emphasizing its intense brightness.
“If ever we recommence this journey, we shall do well to choose the epoch when the moon is new.”
Michel suggests that starting during a new moon would be better for observing the lunar surface.
Michel's reflection on the timing of their launch, though Barbicane counters that a full moon was optimal for landing.