Page:Aether and Matter, 1900.djvu/24

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CONTENTS
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ational: influence of its elasticity in this direction: evidence of water-telescope. Influence of convection of the material medium on velocity of propagation; Fresnel's law necessary whether there is aethereal flow or not. Ray-velocity in moving medium. Influence of convection on positions of optical foci: on period of the light: on phenomena of diffraction and interference, application to diffraction-grating. Inclusion of the second order of small quantities: theory of Michelson's interference experiment; law of reflexion by rotating mirror. General analysis of interference relative to moving media: the retardation may be calculated on the undisturbed path: applied to Michelson's arrangement.

Chapter IV The problem of optical convection: indications towards a dynamical theory 54
Examples of convection of wave-trains by simple media: sound waves in air, waves on stretched cord. Maxwell's equations for the compound medium, aether and matter: various possible constitutive hypotheses considered. Fresnel's law obtained; the electric theory of moving media which it requires; same expressed without the aid of potentials. Sketch of results to be derived from a precise molecular theory: Michelson's interference experiment gives a clue as regards the constitution of a molecule. Magnetic effect of convection of an electric charge with the Earth: Röntgen's null result explained by countervailing charges: the electric effect of the convection of a magnet must be similarly null.
SECTION II
Chapter V On method in general physical theory 68
On the scientific utility of hypothesis: illustrated from the history of the corpuscular theory of light, and of the Weberian theory of electrodynamics. Helmholtz's criticism of the latter not destructive; it is now included in modified form in the aether theory: the same applies to MacCullagh's optical theories, which were at one time rejected. On vector terminology. Hypothesis of aethereal constitution of matter; necessary in order to avoid an irreconcilable duality of matter and aether; historical. Phenomena are expressible in terms of matter alone, unless velocities or alternations comparable with those of radiation are concerned. This electric theory of aether and matter is precisely formulated; thus even if itself incomplete, it will throw light on the possibilities of correlation in that remote region: ordinary molecular theories suppose the molecules so far apart that their interactions can be expressed by 'forces.'
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