The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-01

The maximum tides in these pipes did not
coed onethousandth Of an inch; but so perfect
was the apparatus and so accurate the readings
by Professor Nicholson that all the variations in
the tides were accurately determined. Tides are
complex things. Their height varies with the
position and distance of both the and the
moon and, therefore. is never the same two days
in succession.
Professor MicheIson's experiments revealed 80
of these variations, which corresponded almost
exactly with the variations obtained theoretically
by computing the variations in the attractive
forces exerted by the sun and the The
practical correspondence Of the actual height Of
the tides with the theoretical height proved that
the earth through and through is as rigid as steel
and that it yields to outside forces perfectly
elastic body and not viscOus
This experiment reveals the Imagination and
the striking originality Of Professor Nicholson
The first achievement to bring his to the
attention OF the scientific world his accurate
determination of the velocity Of light, accom-
plished also after overcoming tremendous expert
mental difficulties. Light Is the fastest thing In
nature; it represents the absolute limit Of speed.
After four years Of work and study, Professor
Nicholson announced that light travels with
velocity of 1S6,3S0 miles per second. The maxi
mum in this figure does not exceed
fortieth of per cent
On the subject of spectrum analysis, Professor
Nicholson has devoted many OF the best years of
his life Spectrum analyses are obtained by
means of the spectroscope. Every substance
when heated emits a characteristic light By
means OF the spectroscOpe this light Is analysed
and the elements giving on the light thereby
revealed The spectroscope has enabled sci
entists to determine the elements in far distant
stars. It has made possible tremendously impor-
tant discoveries concerning the nature Of atoms,
the minute particles of which all matter is com
posed
The difficulties OF spectrum analysis will be
realized when It is learned that single atom OF
sodium emits 100000, 100000 vibrations per sec
ond of two slightly different kinds Of light Pro
lessor Nicholson engaged in spectrum
analysis very long before he improved the spec
troscope, calling the improved type echeIon
spectroscope. This wonderful machine divides
light into its various constituents and makes pos
sible their separate analysis.
The echeIon spectroscope uses glass grating
"a piece of highly polished glass on which is
ruled from 1000 to So 900 straight eQuallyspaced
lines to the inch. To make these gratings Pro
lessor Nicholson invented ruling engine that is
the most accurately constructed mechanical de-
vice in the world. It is operated In room the
temperature of which is kept constant to within
one-hundredth OF a degree
To assist in analyzing the lines Of the spectrum
into their fundamental constituents, Professor
Nicholson invented the harmonic anaIyzer,"
machine as complicated and delicate the
linotype machine. By it's assistant can In
a few minutes make calculations that would take
a skilled conputer weeks to accomplish
Scientists have long endeayore5 to determine
the absolute motion Of the earth through space
It is known that the earth swings around the sur