ALBERT EINSTEIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 9

ALBERT EINSTEIN.

ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL. ' (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, January 15. The Royal Astronomical Society has ; awarded Professor Albert Einstein the gold medal for his relativity theory. — 1 ("Sun.") I — ■■ Professor Albert Einstein, Professor of Physics and president of the AkaL demie der Wissenschafaen at Berlin, , won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921, i and his theory has made scientists think hard and work harder ever since he enunciated it. Elaborate preparations were made by the University of Chicago to determine the accuracy of what has become known as the Einstein Theory of Relativity. Does light travel faster in one direction than another? If so, why? The University of Chicago explained the manner -, in which it endeavoured to prove or disprove the accuracy of Professor Em.- . stein's theory. The University's ex--3 perimental plant consisted of 7200 feet I of twelve-inch water pipe, weighing 300 c tons, with seven tons of lead about the s joints to make the pipe air-tight; a j forty horse-power pump to create a 7 inch vacuum; and an arc light, which s threw a light in to the pump. The s experiments took place at Glearing, Illij nois, and the pipe was formed into a j rectangle 1800 feet wide, with a double length of pipe on one side. _ The object of the experiment was to determine whether two beams of light, travelling in opposite directions round the rectangle, required exactly the same time to complete the circuit. The system of mirrors at the four corners of the rectangle constituted an interfereometer, which is one of the most celebrated inventions of Professor Michelson, and makes it possible to compare the time required for the two beams of a, light to make the circuit.