New-York tribune., 1921-05-10
Given
ScieraceDegree
AT Princeton
Representatives of Fifty Uni
versities Attend Elabo-
rate Ceremonies and Hear
Relatively Lecture
Wagon am Illustration
Astronomer Asserts All Pos
sibIe Experiments Uphold
Truth OF His Theory
spse;s, Dsspa,eA TO Tas 1vsba,.s

PRINCETON, N. j., Nav 9.--prince-
ton University this afternoon conferred
the honorary degree Of Doctor Of
Science on Professor Albert Einstein,
who evolved the theory Of relativity.
Following the presentation of the de-
gree Professor Einstein delivered the
frat of series Of lectures on his
theory.
Elaborate ceremonies characterized
the bestowal of the degree. Professor
Einstein led the academic procession
OF faculty, trustees and representatives
from fifty other universities. He was
escorted by President John Grier Hib-
ben of Princeton and the Rev. DR.,
Francis Landey Patton, former presi-
dent of the university.
President Hibben, speaking in Ger
man, introduced Professor Einstein to
the distinguished audience, and the de-
gree was conferred by Dean Andrew
West, who ranked Einstein with Galileo
and Newton. Professor Einstein lee
tured in German.
Scientist Speaks in German
DR.. Einstefn spoke in German. Pro-
fessor E. R. Adams, of the scientific
department, gave brief resume Of
the lecture, extracts from which are
quoted:
What we mean by motion, relative
motion in a general sense, is perfectly
plain TO every one. If we think of a
wagon going along a street, we al
know that it is perfectly possible to
speak Of the wagon at rest and the
street in motion, just as we'll as it is
to speak of the wagon in motion and
the street at rest. That, however, is a
very special part of the ideas involved
In the principle of relatiyty.
"The question is this:h is there any
unique state OF motion we can speak
Of in that general way which, corre-
spends to absolute restf In other
words, is there certain thing which
we can speak of and say that it is
absolutely at rest? The answer to
that question involves the whole theory
of relativity.
"The laws Of mechanics are Just the
same if we refer them to a system
which is moving with uniform and
rectilinear velocity with respect to
another system. II, however, we refer
to a system which is moving with a
rotational motion with respect to
another system, then it is perfectly
we'll known that the laws of mechanics
are not the same as they are when
referred to system in rest
What we mean by an inertial sys-
tenn, in the special theory of relativity
is system which moves with respect
to another system with uniform
velocity in straight line."
illustrated by Two Laws
DR.. Einstein gave as illustrations
two laws, the first of which he called
the principle of RELATIVELY, (which state
that all inertial systems. or all systems
which move with uniform and rectili-
near velocity with respect to each
other are equivalent in expressing the
laws of natural phenomena," and the
laws of the consistency Of the velocity
of light. After discussing what he said
were certain contradictions in these
hypotheses5 DIR. Einstein said:
'No, we have this consequence: That
the laws of all physical phenomena
must satisfy the conditions as given by
the principle of tselativity, that the
statement of all Of, the laws Of physical
phenomena must be the same whether
they are referred to system which we
can speak of as at rest, or referred to
system which is moving with uni
form rectilinear velocity. 41 !,
"All the experimental tests that it
has been possible to make Of the special
theory Of relativity have completely
confirmed it's predictions. y The results
of the Michaelson experiment. are of
course in harmony with the theory, but
| other experimental results, particularly
those involving the high velocity cath
ode and beta particles omitted by
] radioactive substances are such as to
give US confidence Sins the theory. i