Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-03-01
Ohio Physicist Gives Old Newton
Theory a Jolt.
Assumes Ether to Be Endowed With
Vast kinetlc Energy Relative to
Atoms-Dr. Brush Explains His
Idea Of Gravitation.

st. Paul, Minn.-The Newtonian
theory of gravitation that has stood
for ages was upset when DR.. Charles
F. Brush. Cleveland, o.. one Of the
leading physicists of the country, as
cribed the failing propensities Of mat
ter to pushing" property within it.
self derived from the ether through
which 1t falls, rather than to pull
ing power from the earth on the
falling body.
Doctor Brush established the con-
verse theory that the energy exhibited
In the gravitation is fully restored to
the ether when the body is raised
against the gravitation attraction.
Doctor Brush assumes the ether to be
endowed with vast intrinsic kinetic
energy, which is in wave form and is
translated to the atoms or molecules.
In his paper on the "Kinetic Theory
of Gravitation," read before the
physics section Of the scientists con.
vention. Doctor Brush. after discus
sing at length the origin of the en-
ergy acquired by q falling body. con
cludes that the gathered energy
comes from the ether through which
the body falls. Conversely" said
Doctor Brush. equivalent energy Ia
rertored to the ether when the body
is raised against gravitation attrac.
uon. of5
The ether is assumed to be en-
lowed with vast intrinsic kinetic en-
ergy in wave form. The waves are Of
such low frequency. or otherwise OF
such character. that they pass
through the bodies without obstruc.
ton other than that concerned in
gravitation. They are propagated in
straight lines In every conceivable
direction, SO that the wave energy Ia
isotropic, being in this respect like
radiation in the interior space of q
furnace with uniformly heated walls.
Distribution of the ether's intrinsic
energy Is uniform throughout the uni
verse as modified by the presence OF
matter. Any kind of ether waves ca
pable Of exerting motive action on the
atoms or molecules Of matter will full
fill the requirements.
Atoms are imagined to be contin.
ually buffeted in all directions by the
ether waves in paths almost inf.
nitesimally short, but without collision
because neighboring atoms follow
very nearly paralelled paths. The
moving atoms are lkened to particles
of precipitate suspended in turbu
lent water.
Each atom or molecule is regarded
as. a center Of activity. due to itl
kinetic energy Of translation derived
initially from the ether. There is
continual absorption and restitution Of
the ether's energy. normally equal II
amount. But the ether is permanent
ly robbed Of as much Of its energy
as it represented by the mean kinetie
energy Of the atom. This energy de
ficiency In the ether is not wholly
local, but extends indefinitely into
space, diminishing In strength as the
square Of the distance increases.
IA body Of matter is pictured as
casting in effect spherical energy
shadow consisting of the sum Of the
shadows of its constituent units, the
depth or intensity of the shadow vary
ing with the inverse square Of the
distance from the center of the body
Another body at any distance vii
cast similar shadow and the two
shadows will intersect. each body be
ing partially shielded by the othel
from waves coming from that direc
ton. the extent of the shielding effect