The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-01
SCIENCE
.RY DAX1D DIETZ.

Neio Experiments In Ger
many With Intricate APP
paratus Support Einstein
Theory of Relatively.
CHALK up another victory for
~ the Einstein theory of rela-
tivity. Reports from Germany say
that the latest series Of experiments
tried as a check upon the founda-
tons of the theory agree with Elm
STEMS findings.
The experiments we're tried at the
University of Jena by Professor G.
Joos, professor of theoretical physics
at the university. His apparatus
was built for him by the Zeiss
Works. The name of ZeiSS is known
throughout the world for the tele-
scopes, planetariums and fine scien-
tific apparatus which the works
turn out.
Professor JooS' experiments mark
the most recent attempt to repeat
the experiment upon which the
Einstein theory is based, the famous
Michelson-Morley experiment which
was first performed in Cleveland.
O., in 1887.
This was an experiment to detect
the motion of the earth through the
ether of space. 1t got its name
from the fact that it was performed
by the late Professor A. Nicholson
who later became known as the
high priest of light" and the late
Professor Edward w Morley who
gained an international reputation
as a chemist.
The experiment made use of an
apparatus invented by Nicholson
and known as the interferometer.
This apparatus made it possible to
compare the speed of light in diff
ferent directions.
Since light was supposed to be
waves on the same ether through
which the earth was moving the
eXperimenters expected to find an
apparent difference in the speed of
light in different directions From
this, they expected to calculate the
earthS motion through the ether.
Il n
Experiments 10 Years
>HE experiment as performed in
4 1887 failed to show the amount
OF movement or "ether drift" for
which Nicholson and Morley were
hunting. The world of science in
general took the experiment as a
proof of the fact that there was
no ether adrift.
This led to the formulation in
time of the theory of RELATIVELY bv
PROFESSOR Albert Einstein. Einstein's
special theory of relatively. first pub
lisned IN 1905, is based upon this
assumption, namely, that there is
no possibility of ever measuring abb
solute motion, that all motion is
relative to the observer.
Professor Dayton G. Miller who
succeeded Professor Nicholson as
head of the physics department at
Case School of Applied Science in
Cleveland. was always unwilling to
accept the Einstein Interpretation
OF the Morley expert
ment.
AS the result of long series of
experiments performed between 1921
and 1881, some at Mt. Wilson, Cali
tornia, and some at Cleveland, DR..
Miller came to the conclusion that
the experiment does show evidences
of ether adrift.
DR.. Miller believes that if it is
assumed that the earth drags the
ether with it to a certain extent. the
results which he gets can be ex-
planned as a motion of the entire
solar system through space at a We
locity of about 200 miles a second.
As a result of DR.. Miller's work
repetitions of the experiment were
tried in DR.. Millikan's laboratory at
the California Institute of Tech
nology by DR.. Kennedy and at the
MT. Wilson Observatory by a num-
Der of astronomers there.
Both DR.. Kennedy and the Mt.
Wilson astronomers reported re-
suits which disagreed with DR.. Mil
ler's and agreed with the Einstein
Interpretation.
q