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§ 1. The Relations between the Ether and Matter:

Attempts to reduce all matter to forms of ether-Emis-

sion and absorption phenomena show reciprocal action—

Laws of radiation-Radiation of gases-Production of

spectrum-Differences between light and sound varia-

tions show difference of media-Cauchy's, Briot's, Car-

vallo's and Boussinesq's researches-Helmholtz's and

Poincaré's electromagnetic theories of dispersion (pp.

293-302). § 2. The Theory of Lorentz: Mechanics fails

to explain relations between ether and matter-Lorentz

predicts action of magnet on spectrum-Zeeman's ex-

periment Later researches upon Zeeman effect-

Multiplicity of electrons Lorentz's explanation of

thermoelectric phenomena by electrons-Maxwell's and

Lorentz's theories do not agree-Lorentz's probably more

correct-Earth's movement in relation to ether (pp.

302-311). § 3. The Mass of Electrons: Thomson's and

Max Abraham's view that inertia of charged body due

to charge-Longitudinal and transversal mass- -Speed

of electrons cannot exceed that of light Ratio of

charge to mass and its variation Electron simple

electric charge Phenomena produced by its accelera-

tion (pp. 311-316). § 4. New Views on Ether and

Matter: Insufficiency of Larmor's view-Ether definable

by electric and magnetic fields — Is matter all elec-

trons? Atom probably positive centre surrounded by

negative electrons Ignorance concerning positive

particles-Successive transformations of matter probable

-Gravitation still unaccounted for (pp. 316-321).

The New Physics and
its Evolution

CHAPTER I

THE EVOLUTION OF PHYSICS

THE now numerous public which tries with some success to keep abreast of the movement in science, from seeing its mental habits every day upset, and from occasionally witnessing unexpected discoveries that produce a more lively sensation from their reaction on social life, is led to suppose that we live in a really exceptional epoch, scored by profound crises and illustrated by extraordinary discoveries, whose singularity surpasses everything known in the past. Thus we often hear it said that physics, in particular, has of late years undergone a veritable revolution; that all its principles have been made new, that all the edifices constructed by our fathers have been overthrown, and that on the field thus cleared has sprung up the most abundant harvest that has ever enriched the domain of science.

It is in fact true that the crop becomes richer and more fruitful, thanks to the development

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