The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-31

The maximum tides In these pipes did not ex.
coed one-thousandth 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 sun and the
moon and, therefore, is never the same two days
in succession
Professor Mchelson'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 moon. 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 1t yields to outside forces as perfectly
elastic body and not as a viscous mass.
This experiment reveals the imagination and
the striking originality of Professor Nicholson.
The first achievement to bring his name to the
attention of the scientific world was his accurate
determination Of the velocity Of light accom-
plshed also after overcoming tremendous expert
mental difficulties Light Is the fastest thing In
nature; 1t represents the absolute limit of speed
After four years of work and study Professor
Nicholson announced that light travels with
velocity of 1S6,S30 miles per second. The maxi
mum error In this figure does not exceed one
fortteth of one 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 characteristic light BY
means of the spectroscope this light Is analysed
and the elements giving of the light are thereby
revealed. The spectroscope has enabled sci
entists to determine the elements in far distant
stars. 1t has made possible tremendously impor-
tant discoveries concerning the nature Of atoms,
the minute particles OF which ali matter is com
posed.
The difficulties Of spectrum analysis will be
realized when 1t Is learned that single atom of
sodium emits S000OO,00O,0OO vibrations per Sec
ond OF two slightly different kinds of light. Pro-
fessor Nicholson was engaged in spectrum
analysis very long before he improved the spec
troscope, calling the improved type an echolon
spectroscope, This wonderful machine divides
hght into Its various constituents and makes DOS
sible their separate analysis
The echelon spectroscope uses glass grating
"a piece of highly polished glass on which is
ruled from $4,000 to $4,000 straight euuallyspaced
lines to the inch. To make these gratings Pro.
fessor Nicholson invented ruling engine that is
the most accurately constructed mechanical de-
vice in the world 1t is operated in room the
temperature of which is kept constant to within
onehrndredth OF a degree.
To assist in analyzing the lines Of the spectrum
into their fundamental constituents, Professor
Nicholson invented the harmonic anayzer," a
machine as complicated and as delicate as the
linotype machine. BY its use an assistant can In
few minutes make calculations that would take
skilled computer weeks to accomplish
Scientists have long endeavored to determine
the absolute motion of the earth through space
II is known that the earth swings around the sun