[AEROSTATIC a. in pl. treated as a collective sing. after analogy of mathematics, etc.: see -ICS. Long used in the L. form aerostatica.] The branch of Pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium and pressure of air, and other elastic fluids, or gases, and of bodies sustained in them: hence including AERONAUTICS.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Aerostatica is used by some authors for the science called by others aerometry.
1788. Howard, Encyc., I. 56. Aerostatica also denotes the doctrine of the pressure and balance of the air.
1864. H. Spencer, Illust. Progress, 121. The invention of the barometer enabled men to extend the principles of mechanics to the atmosphere; and Aerostatics existed.
1881. in Nature, XXIII. 298. The study of the applications of aërostatics to military purposes.
