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Some new experiments on gravitation
96
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
The suggestion is made that the instrument can be made to measure larger alternating currents. It may be used to replace the ear in telephone research and in psychological work where an objective measure is to be 'correlated with subjective impressions through the ear. G. F. S.
The Distinction Between Intrinsic anct Spurious Contact E. M. F. S. and the Question of the Absorption of Radiation by Metals in Quanta. R . A . MILLIKAN. (Phys. R e v . , Sept., I92I. ) The wide-reaching conclusions so clearly presented by Richardson in his Vice-presidential address a¢ the I 9 2 i B. A. A. S. to the effect that the data of the photo-electric effect demonstrate the existence of a real contact difference of potential are still further buttressed by this present paper which summarizes a long series of researches. " The accompanying experiments, then, taken in connection with those of Page and those of Kadesch and Hennings, show in the most beautiful quantitative w a y that all clean metals possess intrinsic contact e. m. f. s." " Thus the century-old dispute as to the reality of intrinsic contact e. m. f. s. appears to be quite definitely settled by experiments of this type." " It it to emphasize, too, that the result is a purely experimental one which is quite independent of any theory, although it is beautifully in accord with the theory of electron atmospheres." G. F. S. Some New Experiments on Gravitation. CHARLES F. BRUSH. Rev., August, I 9 2 I . ) - - A t the meeting of the American Physical Society in April, I92I, the results of certain experiments in relation to gravitation were presented, as follows: " I. Gravitational Attractions of a Kg. each of Bismuth and of Zinc for a Small Nearby Ball of Silver Are Not the Same. " 2. A Gravity Pendulum with a Bismuth Bob Has a Shorter Period than a Similar Pendulum of Exactly the Same Oscillation Leng~th Having a Zi,nc Bob. " 3 . A Torsion Pendulum Having Equal Horizontal Arms Loaded with Equal Weights of Bismuth Has a Shorter Period than when the Arms Are Loaded with Equal Weights of Zinc of the Same Weight as the Bismuth Loads; The Radii of Gyration Being Exactly the Same in Both Cases." These conclusions are in direct opposition to the accept~ed relation of mass to weight and are in contradiction to the results of careful experiments made by others. Should they, upon repetition, prove to be justified they will render necessary a vast amount of scientific reconstruction. G. F. S.
(Phys.
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
The suggestion is made that the instrument can be made to measure larger alternating currents. It may be used to replace the ear in telephone research and in psychological work where an objective measure is to be 'correlated with subjective impressions through the ear. G. F. S.
The Distinction Between Intrinsic anct Spurious Contact E. M. F. S. and the Question of the Absorption of Radiation by Metals in Quanta. R . A . MILLIKAN. (Phys. R e v . , Sept., I92I. ) The wide-reaching conclusions so clearly presented by Richardson in his Vice-presidential address a¢ the I 9 2 i B. A. A. S. to the effect that the data of the photo-electric effect demonstrate the existence of a real contact difference of potential are still further buttressed by this present paper which summarizes a long series of researches. " The accompanying experiments, then, taken in connection with those of Page and those of Kadesch and Hennings, show in the most beautiful quantitative w a y that all clean metals possess intrinsic contact e. m. f. s." " Thus the century-old dispute as to the reality of intrinsic contact e. m. f. s. appears to be quite definitely settled by experiments of this type." " It it to emphasize, too, that the result is a purely experimental one which is quite independent of any theory, although it is beautifully in accord with the theory of electron atmospheres." G. F. S. Some New Experiments on Gravitation. CHARLES F. BRUSH. Rev., August, I 9 2 I . ) - - A t the meeting of the American Physical Society in April, I92I, the results of certain experiments in relation to gravitation were presented, as follows: " I. Gravitational Attractions of a Kg. each of Bismuth and of Zinc for a Small Nearby Ball of Silver Are Not the Same. " 2. A Gravity Pendulum with a Bismuth Bob Has a Shorter Period than a Similar Pendulum of Exactly the Same Oscillation Leng~th Having a Zi,nc Bob. " 3 . A Torsion Pendulum Having Equal Horizontal Arms Loaded with Equal Weights of Bismuth Has a Shorter Period than when the Arms Are Loaded with Equal Weights of Zinc of the Same Weight as the Bismuth Loads; The Radii of Gyration Being Exactly the Same in Both Cases." These conclusions are in direct opposition to the accept~ed relation of mass to weight and are in contradiction to the results of careful experiments made by others. Should they, upon repetition, prove to be justified they will render necessary a vast amount of scientific reconstruction. G. F. S.
(Phys.