Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-09
SUNS REPULSIvE FORCE
New Astronomical Discovery
Discussed by Scientists.
SMALL BODIES CHIEFLY AFFECTED

Effect of Light on the Larger Hardly
sensible-An the Planets and Com
cts RepeIIed From the Sun as Well
fessOr See.
The great gathering of scientists just
held In Washington devoted much at
tention to the study of repulsive forces,
which have recently attracted so much
attention among astronomers and
physicists, says the st. Louis Globe
Democrat Since the time Of Sir Isaac
Newton, about two centuries ago, as
tronomers have explained nearly all as
Economical observations by the law Of
universal gravitation. This great law
of nature accounts for the figure of the
earth and planets and the motions Of
the planets and comets around the sun,
and it also accounts for the motions Of
the double stars, OF which many thou
sand are now known.
Recent physicists have proved that
light exerts slight repulsive force,
and consequently all the planets and
comets are repelled from the sun as
well as attracted by it. Even candle
repels all bodies little, but of course
its effect is too small to admit of meas
urement. The asthophysicists recently
in session discussed these new discov-
cries and kindred questions relating to
the nebuln and new stars.
Professor T. J. ]. See of the navy has
an elaborate paper on this live topic in
Popular Astronomy for December, and
this latest contribution came in for
share of comment. Professor See in
commenting ON all these recent discov-
cries shows that very small bodies are
most repelled by light, while the eff
feet on larger bodies Is hardly sensi-
BILE. If the particles repelled have a
diameter equal to one e-thousandth
that of grain of sand the repulsion
from the sun is equal to the attraction
of gravity, and If the bodies are still
smaller, the effect is even greater. This
accounts for the tails of comets, the
zodiacal light and other celestial phe-
nomena.
The tails of comets have long been
known to point from the sun, and this
Is IOW dCCOullttt lol ny tht iNpuiSioh
acting on the small particles which
compose these airy bodies.
Most distinguished scientists write
on this new subject with caution, but
none of them doubt its vast signii-
cance for future discovery. Professor
See says: SIN conclusion we should re-
member that gravitation condenses the
,iy,,r ctnt frnt1 n
of infinite diffusion and chaos. This
condensation produces heat and light
and the radiation of electrons, and the
waves of light and electric forces en-
anating from such centers repel all
matter of a certain fineness or of GER
tain chemical constitution so powerful
ly as to diffuse it again to the bounds
of the universe.
"There is thus in nature a partial
counteraction of the condensing and
aggregating tendency of universal
gravitation. Some of the matter is
again sprend over the universe by the
indirect effects of the same agency
which caused the condensation. How
far this process of redistribution goes
hutl Will pIopoIllol VI al tue uluttcl
now falling into the stars for the main
tenance of their radiation is thus ef-
fected cannot at present be deter
mined, but probably only small frac-
ton of all the matter drawn In is ever
expelled, so that condensation contin-
ues, with slightly retarded rate.
"It is interesting to notice, however,
that if this expulsion Of matter should
by any possibility of future discovery
prove to be equal to that drawn in by
the attractive force of gravitation it
would be conceivable for the universe
In its present state to last forever, a
thing heretofore considered impossible.
This perpetuity of the universe, to be
sure, does not at present seem very
probable, but we know as yet too little
to say that 1t is wholly impossible.
There may be some laws of nature Of
farreaching character heretofore I'M
known and wholly unsuspected yet to
be discovered. And these may show
that repulsve forces in nature called
into play by gravitation itself aid in
redistributing what gravitation has ac-
cumulated by its condensing power.
At any rate, in the future study of the
heavens repulsive forces must be con-
sidered before forming any final esti-
mate of the destiny of the physical
universe"