Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-10
NEW THEORY
OF ENERGY is
GAINING
Physicists Gradually Discard
ing Belief in Matter as
an Entity.
pARADoxEs EXPLAINED

CHICAGO. Feb. 10.-Discussing funda-
mental changes in thought regarding the
bacterial universe following the promul-
cation Of the Einstein theory of reIatlY-
ity, Prof A. A. Nicholson of the Unit
versity of Chicago said the impression
twas gaining ground among physicists
that energy replaces matter as the run
damental entity of the universe.
The position Of Prof Nicholson in re-
e gard TO the Einstein theory is unique, FOR
tt was he who made the experiments upon
which Prof Einstein based his conclu-
g1ons without these experiments, the
b Einstein theory could not have been ad-
vanced Head of the department OF
phvsics at the University of Chicago since
the founding of that institution in 1892
recipient of the Nobel prize for physics
IN 1907. and a member of learned socle-
ties In a number of foreign countries,
Prof Nicholson has long been one of the
outstanding figures in the world OF
physics. He received the Nobel aware
Of $4,000 for his work in the field OF
light Several of his more important IN
ventions have been the measurement of
the velocity Of light, the measurement OF
the length of light waves, and more re-
Gently the measurement of the rigid1ty or
the earth.
n EINsrEIN THEORY
NOW IN FAVOR.
Prof. Nicholson is inclined toward the
acceptance of the Elnstein theory, walt
ing only upon what he considers its more
adequate explanation of the phenomena
Of light
The experiments which gave the start
ing point for the Einstein theory OF
RELATIVELY were made in an endeavor
10 determine whether the solar system
is moving in relation to the ether.
# Measuring a ray of light travelling east
and west, Prof. Nicholson found 1t DID
not differ in velocity from a ray travel
M ing north and south. If the solar sys-
tenn were In motion in regard to the
ether this would have heen shown. Meas
urement of the light rays however, MI
gave the same negative result In short,
while the movement Of the solar sys-
"a tom in relation to certain stars was OBJ
tainabIe this experiment indicated that
nothing could be learned of the move
lnent of the solar system alone, of itself,
in space. That is, no other knowledge
of movement Is obtainable than what Is
relative Taking this negative result
as premise, which Incidentally gave
ed the name to the theory, Prof. Einstetn
3 worked out his theory of relatively.
The Einstein theory has done much to
omen thought to the possibilities Of other
# dimensions of space than those of ex-
perience.
results which would generally be con
sIdered startling followed from the
Einstein theory, many of them OF such
nature as to appear paradoxical. Some
seemed to contradict experience. Nari-
Gus supporters of the theory were dis
rosed to present the paradoxes in the
81 attitude that where results were at vari-
ance with experience, experience snoulo
be thrown overheard. The University
Of Chicago physicist did not feel this
was the best position to take. lie thought
the paradoxes might for the most part be
found not so paradoxical, and, while in
teresting, it was not worth while to over
emphasize this phase Of the subject.
s. Nevertheless, certain results did follow
which were striking. Among these were
that a bar Of iron would be longer when
placed east and west than when placed
north and south that clock. runs slower
in motion than at rest; that bar Of
steel travelling at the velocity of light
would have its length reduced to zero.
and that a body in motion has a greater
mass than when at rest. The mass of
body has been supposed to be one Of the
most constant things of which there is
any knowledge, and now it is shown that
1t is not constant This has been
proved experimentally to be correct.
In practical effect, the Einstein theory
will not disturb the experiences of ev-
eryday life, for it comes into calculations
only when velocities are of the order of
$4,000 miles a second, and light alone
travels that fast.
EINsTEIN THEORY
OF NOTHING IN SPACE.
The chief point of difference between
Prof Nicholson and Prof. Einstein, es
before noted, is in regard to what space
Is filled with The Einstein theory says,
nothing. The other physicists do not
believe this possible not on account Of
the view summed up in the old phrase,
mature abhors 4 vacuum" because that
had been found without merit, and fur
thermore 1t was quite possible to con-
ceive of space as empty, but because an
empty space did not harmonic with the
accepted theory of the way light trav-
els. In the effort to explain light along
with the elimination Of the ether. at
tempts had been made to revive Newton's
corpuscular theory (that the sun shoots
out corpuscles of light, but these en-
deavors have only made more difficulties
for the physicists than confronted them
before. The theory of light consisting
n of waves travelling In the ether remains
the only theory than can account for
the propaganda of light and electricity.
Prof, Nicholson felt however, that 1t
might be entirely possible to reconcile
the existence Of the ether and the Elm
stein theory. In that case he would
readily subscribe to the theory. While
N the instances In which the Einstein the
q Org had opportunity to Justify Itself were
"a few and there were several objections,
"a he felt It had already proved its value
81 snd that objections would be met.