LUMINIFEROUS ETHER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 4

LUMINIFEROUS ETHER.

LECTURE BY MR. J. ,VV. POYNTON. Tho Municipal Concert Chamber was comfortably filled last evening, when Mr. J. W. Poynton gave a frco address, under'tho auspices of tho City Council, on, "Luminiferous Jither." Mr. 1). M'Larcn presided. The lecturer explained the connection between sound and atmospheric vibrations, described how Bound waves were measured, tho short waves giving a high tone end tho long waves tho deep notes. As tho velocity of sound through tho air was known it was an easy thing to determine the length of each wavo giving a particular note. By analogy the disturbances of the luminiferous ether,' which was supposed to bo a kind of fluid pervading all spa'co and penetrating tho densest kinds of mnttor, woro explained.' Just as tho disturbances in the air caused sound waves, so the movement of this ether gave rise to tho forces of electricity, magnetism, heat, light, X-rays, and probably gravitation. Colours was due to tho particular length of tho wavo 011 tho scale of light, lied light corresponded to the deep notes in music, green to tho intermediate ones, and blue to tho treblo notes. ,Tho lecturer explained how these waves could be separated from ordinary whito light and experimented with, lied light consisted of waves measuring about. SU,OOQ to tho inch, and tho deep violet ones, tho shortest visible waves, measured about 70,000 to tho inch. Above and below this tliero woro enormous areas invisible to tho eye, but which were the source of many forms of energy. Heat and electricity were longer waves than tho light waves, and the X-rays were much shorter than the shortest visible light rays. It was explained how ono force could be converted into another by alteration iu tho wave length. Tho enormous importance of this other in tho scheme of tho nniverso was dwelt upon- at considerable length. Possible fnturo discoveries by accumulating nerve force perhaps in the form of batteries, and the discovery of a force which would neutralise that of gravitation were suggested. Wireless telegraphy,'which is mado possible by getting control of a particular kind of etberial wave, was described in detail by Mr. Poyiitom At tho conclusion of the lecture, which was listened to with great'interest, several-ques-tions were asked by persons anxious to obtain further information on an absorbing topic. The questions were very clearly answered b,v Mr. Poynton, who received a hearty. r vQto of thauke for liis address.