F. 80:—(1) 50 44*, (2) 74 76 77, (3) 94 100 106 113 115 116, (4) 123 124* 140 165* 169*.
F. 100:—(1) 36 58 60 65* 65 74 77 80 87, (2) 98 108 118, (3) 114* 168 186* 170 136*.
F. 120:—(1) 40 46 54 60 63 76 96 97 111, (2) 115 120 126* 137*, (3) 170 170*.
F. 140:—(1) 45 52 65 65 76 76 86 90, (2) 109 111, (3) 125 140*, (4) 168*.
F. 160:—(1) 38 50 50 60, (2) 80 90 96 98 98, (3) 176*.
F. 180:—(1) 21 23, (2) 54 70 84 90, (3) 100 100 108 114 120, (4) 130 145*.
F. 200:—(1) -2, (2) 33 37 50, (3) 106 110 to 120 115 120 130 132 138 142.
The most striking point about these groups is the frequency of positions far from the center when F. also is far out. At F. 120, a position at which the mechanical choice usually prevails if F. is smaller, a very marked preference indeed appears for positions of V. nearer the center—in fact, there is only one opposing (first) choice. Now, if it is not the wide space otherwise left which pulls the variable in,—and we see from a note that the subjects have no feeling of a large empty space in the center,—it must be that F. has the same effect as if it were really smaller than V., that is, mechanically 'light.' We see, in fact, that the moment F. has passed the point, between 80 and 100, at which both lines close together in the center would be disagreeable, the preference is marked for inner positions of V., and I repeat that this cannot be for space-filling reasons, from the testimony of F. 200 (3).
And this 'lightness' of the line pointed in at 45° is indeed what we should have expected a priori since we found that objective heaviness is balanced by a movement out from the center on the mechanical principle. If movement out and objective heaviness are in general alike in effect, then movement in and objective lightness should be alike in effect, as we have found to be the case from the preceding experiments. The inward-pointed line does not actually move in, it is true, but it strongly suggests the completion of the movement. It enters into the 'mechanical' equation—it appears to balance—as if it had moved.
The point, however, in which this 'lightness' of the inward-pointed line differs from that of the small or short line is its space-filling quality. It suggests movement in a certain direction, and, while giving the mechanical effect of that movement as completed, seems also in a sense to cover that space. We see from F. 180 (3), (4), and 200 (3), that the subject does not shrink from large spaces between the lines, and does not, as in Exp. I. (a), 4 and 5, bring the variable, which in both cases is evidently 'heavier,' to the center. This must be from the fact that the empty space does not in this experiment feel empty—it is filled with energy of the suggested movement. This view is confirmed by the dislike which the subjects show to the position F. 40; F., being 'lighter,' but the object of attention as close to the center, might well balance V. far out. But as if the whole variable field would be in that case 'overfilled,' the records show 50 per cent. of refusals to choose for this position.