RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 15

RADIO

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CONCEPTION OF ETHER IS SUBJECT OF DISPUTE. BY LAURENCE M. COCKADAY. This is the third portion of Laurence Id. Cockaday’s article on this subject. The first appeared in Tuesday’s issue of the “ Star,” and the second on Wednesday. The concluding part appears in to-morrow’s “ Star.” 80. 3. Steinmetz Attacks Theory. Tn 1922 the late Dr Charles P. Steinmetz said, in attacking the ether theory, “ If ether fills all space there must be absolute position and absolute motion. If the theory of relativity is right, therefore, there can be no such thing as the ether and the ether hypothesis is untenable.” Instead of a medium for carrying waves Steinmetz considered that the radiation waves were made up of variations in a combined electrostatic and electromagnetic Held. He replaced the ether concept with the conception of a field of force or field of energy and stated that ‘‘a beam of light, a radio wave, or any electromagnetic wave,' is a periodic alternation of the electromagnetic energy field of space.” He said, “There is no such thing as the ether. And light and wireless waves are not ether waves in space.” Here was another setback to the theory of the ether. The Quantum Theory. And the now famous Michelson-Mor-ley experiments, the Morley and Miller experiments, and others, failed to detect any ether drift as the earth sped through it, failed to find any retardation due to an ether. The quantum theory, which gives a more plausible explanation of radiation and absorption than does the etherwave theory, is considered another real menace to the ether theory. It shows some resemblance to the older corpuscular theory of light, although it deals with quanta rather than true corpuscles. It maintains that radiation is a discontinuous process and that radiant energy is broken up into small parcels. This new development which does not need the ether has become more firmly established as the years of research and scientific progress have unrolled. But however well it explains emission and absorption, it does not do so well when it is employed to explain transmission. Thus the wave theory, in spite of its shortcomings, survives and is useful, although the quantum theory is growing and advancing. Here we can readily see the tangle the scientific world is confronted with, due to these opposing concepts. (To be concluded.) TO-NIOHT’S CONCERTS. IYA, Auckland (329 metres). S to 10: Studio concert. 2YA, Wellington (416 metres). S.O: (Note: This programme is subject to interruption to permit of a relay of a sound film feature from the Majestic Theatre). 2YA Orchestrina, "Jolly Robbers”; tenor, Mr Stewart Nelson, "On Billow Rocking,” "That Night I'll Ne-er Forget”; banjo, Mr F. Walker, “The Swanee River,” “Rio Rita”; popular songs, Miss Flora Mackenzie, "Hawaiian Memories,” “A Little Kiss Each Morning”; Orchestrina, “My Cinderella Girl”; humour, Miss Fanny Kutner, “The Boy on the Stairs”; Orchestrina, “No, No, Nanette”; Mr Nelson,

“Boat Song” from “Jlielum River”; banjo, Mr Walker, “Girl of My Dreams,” “Darkies* Jubilee”; weather report; Orchestrina, “The Girlie with the Baby Stare,” “Rain Beau Medley”; Miss Kutner, “Proposals”; Miss Mackenzie, “All Alone Monday,” “High. High Up On the Hills”; Orchestrina, “Love Sparke,” “As You Please.** 9.30: Dance programme until 11 p.m. 3YA, Christchurch (306 metres). 8.0: Debroy Somers Band, “Mister Cinders.” 8.9: Bass, Mr R. S. H. Buchanan, “A Smuggler’s Song,” “The Ballad of the-Knight,” “The Tavern Song.” 8.19: Instrumental trios, Miss Thelma Cusack, Miss Marjorie Chapman, and Mr Fred Page, “Serenade,” “Berceuse de ’.Jocelyn,” “Moment Musical.” 8.29: Soprano. Mrs J. A. Edwards, “Sylvia,” “My Old Piano and Me,” “Me and You.” 8.41: Humour, Mr Jack Darragh, “What a Life,” “The Coster at the Races.” 8.51: 8.8. C. Wireless Military Band. “Dance of the Tumblers,” “Golliwog’s Cake Walk.” 8.59: Weather forecast. 9.1.: ’Cello, Miss Marjorie Chapman. “Aria”; instrumental trios, “Second VaJse in B Flat,” “Poupee Valsante.” 9.11: Contralto, Miss Nancy Bowden, ' “Fisherland,” “Storm Lullaby," "Ye Banks and Braes.” 9.21: Accordeon, Mr W. Sumner, "Medley of Popular Airz.” 9.31: Tenor, Mr H. Blakeley, “The Rose of Tralee,” “Mary of Argyle,” “The Death of Nelson.” 9.43: 'Cello, Miss Marjorie Chapman, “Dance Rustic”; instrumental trio, “La Lisonjera,” “Hungarian Dance, No. 5.” 9.52: Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards, “Merrie England.” 10.0: Close. 4YA, Dunedin (461 metres). S.O: ICirilloff’s Balalaika Orchestra, “Medley of Old Time Songs.” 8.9: Mezzo-soprano, Miss T. C. Blackman, “Pansy,” “Adoree.” 5.15: Instrumental Quintet, “Beauty Prize,” “Bells of St Mary’s.” 8.25: Scottish humour by Mr Jock Lockhart. 8.55: Instrumental Quintet, “Blue Kitten,” "Berceuse.” 8.4 5: Soprano, Mrs J. Marshall, “Oil Love, I Will Thy Shepherd Be.” 8.48: Piano, Mrs C. Drake, “Asphodel.” “Shepherds Hey.” 8.54: Contralto, Miss M. Somerville, “Friend o’ Mine,” "Scotch Lullaby.” 9.0: Weather report. 9 2: Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards, “H.M.S. Pinafore.” 9.10: Mrs Marshall, "Believe Me,” “My Garden of Dreams.” 9.16: Quintet, “Hullo, America." 9.26: Mr Jock Lockhart. 9.36: Quintet, “Bronze Horse,” “British Patrol.” 9.44: Miss Blackman, “Sweet Mary.” 9.47: Cornet, James Compton, “At Dawn,” “At Sunset.” 9.53: Miss Somerville, “The Everlasting Love.” 9.56: Quintet, "Country Girl.” 20.2: Close. Sydney Stations. Through 2BL there are selections by the A.B.C. Orchestra; there are songs by Lance .JefFree, tenor, Carl Budden Morris, pianist, is playing in association, with the orchestra, and George White, violinist, is giving a short recital. At 11 o’clock the Harmony Four present “Neenah the Spirit Maiden,” and Claude Corbett will give bis sporting talk at 11.40. Organ solos will open 2FC’s presentation to-night, and these will be followed by the popular Radio Rascal, Jack Lumsdaine. There are saxophone solos by Josef ICaartinen, songs by Peggy Dpnbar, contralto, and Mabel 1 Batchelor, soprano. Ellis Price, entertainer, is including in his programme, by special request, “Pigs is Pigs,” and “Redguin” will give his gardening talk at 10.45. From 11 o’clock onward our programme will be relayed to 2NC, Newcastle. At 12.15 there will be a talk on the match Australia v. West Indies, played at Sydney, relayed to 3LO, Melbourne, 4QG, Brisbane, and SCL, Adelaide. IS SI S! S 3 IS ©@SI HI ffl @3 SI HI ffl H! IS ffl ®Hi 0