Aether and Gravitation

by William George Hooper

The hypothesis that all elements have definite quantities of electricity in them, or a definite number of electrons, as suggested on page 335, receives added weight by the testimony of Sir Oliver Lodge in the work already referred to. Writing on the subject, he says: “It is a fascinating guess that the electrons constitute the fundamental substratum of which all matter is composed. That a grouping of say 700 electrons, 350 positive and 350 negative, interleaved or interlocked in a state of violent motion so as to produce a stable configuration under the influence of their centrifugal inertia and their electric forces, constitutes an atom of hydrogen. That sixteen times as many, in another stable grouping, constitute an atom of oxygen. That some 16,000 of them go to form an atom of sodium; about 100,000 an atom of barium; and 160,000 an atom of radium.”

From these extracts, taken from Modern Views of Matter, the author claims that the theory of the Aether presented to the reader in Aether and Gravitation receives added confirmation and support.

---

ERRATA

The author regrets that Professor J. J. Thomson's name has been incorrectly spelled in several places.

INDEX

Aberration of light, [69], [149], [218]
Absorption, [104]-6
Acceleration, [239]
Actinic rays, [141]
Action at a distance, [96], [174], [176]
and re-action, [20], [251]
Adams' discovery of Neptune, [25]
Aether is matter, [54]-8
is atomic, [59]-[67]
is gravitative, [64]-9
density of, [69], [71], [136], [243]
elasticity of, [74]-7
inertia of, [76], [330]
its motions, [80]
compressibility of, [291], [315]
waves, [79]-[80]
Aetherial basis of matter, [326]
Affinity, chemical, [43]
Aldebaran, [312]
Aluminium, [79]
Ampère, [192]
Ampère's theory of magnetism, [193]
Andromeda, [314]
Annual magnetic variation, [208]
Annular nebulae, [320]
Aphelion of earth, [36]
Arago, M., [321]
Arcturus, [312]
Areas, Kepler's law of, [36]
Asten, Von, [234], [296]
Asteroids, [31]
Atmosphere, [68], [73], [102], [225]
Atom, vortex, [45], [46], [61]
what it is, [43]
electron, [63]
Boscovitch, [61]
hard, [61]
size of, [43]
Attraction, electrical, [2], [286]
of gravitation, [13], [24], [31]
magnetic, [195]
Balance, Torsion, [187]
Bernoulli, [221], [341]
Beta Persei, [308]
Biela's comet, [296]-7
Binary compound, [143]
stars, [25], [309]
Biot, [138]
Boscovitch atoms, [44], [138]
Boyle and Marriotte's law, [76], [103]
Bradley's discovery of aberration, [149]
Bredichin on comets' tails, [302]
Brilliancy of stars, [307], [309]
British Association Report, [57], [59]
Calcium, [79]
Canis major, [307]
minor, [307]
Capella, [312]
Carbon, [48]
Carboniferous period, [115]
Carnot on heat, [116]-18
Cassini, [307]
Cause and effect, [14]
of gravitation, [1], [282]-9
Cavendish experiment, [24]
Centauri, [79]
Centre of gravity, [325]
Centrifugal force, [9,] [13], [15,] [30,] [236]-8
Centripetal force, [9,] [12,] [282]
Cetus, [307]
Chalk, [6]
Challis, Prof., [74], [96], [100], [107], [151], [155], [214], [227], [311]
Chemistry, [47], [336]
Coal, [86], [88]
Clairaut, [297]
Clusters of stars, [314]
Cohesion, [48]
Colour, [138]
Colours of stars, [308]
seven primary, [139]
Comets, [291]
attracted by planets, [298]
condensation of, [292]
Comets and meteors, [297]
short period, [293]-4
long period, [293]-4
tails of, [298]-9
orbits of, [293]
nucleus of, [298]-9
coma, [298]-9
Compressibility of aether, [291], [315]
Condensation of gases, [47]
Conservation of matter, [42]
of energy, [84]
of motion, [92]
Constellations, [307]
Corollary, [15]
Corona Borealis, [309]
Corpuscles, [42], [64], [136]
Corpuscular theory of light, [122]
Correlation of forces, [83]
Coulomb Torsion balance, [185], [187]
Crookes, Sir William, [42], [136], [326], [341]
Current, electric, [163]
magnetic, [192]
Currents, [90]
Curry, Prof., [284]
Cycle of operations, [114], [116]
Cygnus, [307]
Dalton's atomic theory, [42]
Davy, 99, [107]
Day and night, [4]
D'Arrest's comet, [296]
Deimos, [38]
Democritus, [44]
Density of matter, [51]
of aether, [69]
electric, [170]
of earth, [242]
of sun, [27]
of planets, [242]
Descartes, [221]-2, [341]
Dewar, Prof., [47]
Diameter of earth, [29]
polar, [29]
equatorial, [29]
of sun, [280]
of planets, [29]
Dielectric, [168], [175]
Diffusion, [49]
Dip, magnetic, [199]
Distances of stars, [280]
Diurnal variations, magnetic, [209]
Dog star (Sirius), [306]
Donati's comet, [298]
Double stars, [308]
Draco, [307]
Dynamical equivalent of heat, [114]
value of light, [150]
Dynamics, laws of thermo-, [114]-18
Dynamo, [87], [90]
Ear, [120]
Earth, mass of, [235], [242]
a magnet, [196]-8
size of, [29]
rotation of, [219]
orbit of, [276]
periodic time of, [251]
gravity of, [29]
shape of, [29]
distance from sun, [242], [251]
velocity in orbit, [251]
Eccentricity of orbits, [268], [276]
Eclipse, [145], [148]
Ecliptic, plane of, [277]-9
Elasticity, [46]
of matter, [51]
of aether, [74]
Electric current, [154]
potential, [170]
induction, [175]
radiation, [182]
density, [170]
energy, [179]
field, [166], [179]
lines of force, [173]
Electricity, [64], [162]
two kinds of, [175]
positive, [175]
negative, [175]
laws of, [184]
theories of, [162]
Electrons, [136], [163]
Electro-static, [158], [164]
kinetic, [158], [164]
kinetic energy, [217]
magnetism, [192]-5
magnets, [199]
magnetic theory of light, [229]
chemical equivalents, [189], [333]
Elements of matter, [47]
Ellipse, [34]
Kepler's discovery of, [34]
Elliptical nebulae, [320]
Emission theory of light, [122]
Encke's comet, [293], [296]
resisting medium, [228]
Energy, [83], [84]
what it is, [83]
conservation of, [84]
transformation of, [86]
potential, [87]
kinetic, [89], [164]
radiant, [109]
electrical, [179]
and motion, [91]
Engine, Carnot's heat, [116]
Envelopes of comets, [298]
Epicureans, [44]
Equal areas, [36]
times, [36]
Equator, N. and S. Poles, [29]
magnetic, [202]
terrestrial, [29]
Equipotential surfaces, [171]
Equivalents, electro-chemical, [189], [333]
Euler, [123]
Exchanges, theory of, [105]
Experience, [4]
Experiments of Rumford, [98]
of Michelson and Morley, [67], [227]
of Lebedew, [302]
of Nichols and Hull, [153]
of Hertz, [165]
of Faraday, [65], [285]
of M. Faye, [302]
of Joule, [114]
Falling stone, [21], [29]
Faraday, [45], [175], [220]
on matter, [56]
on Lines of Force, [168], [200], [203]-5
on magnetic space, [208]
on gravitation, [287]
on electricity, [332]
on induction, [176]
Faye, M., [111], [302], [319]
Faye's comet, [293], [296]
Field, electric, [179]
magnetic, [199]
Fizeau, [149], [224]
Fluids, [48]
Food, [89]
Forbes, [121]
Force, [16], [19], [90]
centrifugal, [9], [13], [236]
centripetal, [9], [12], [282]
lines of, [200]
Forces, direction of the, [26]
proportion of the, [26]
Foucault, [149]
Franklin, [106]
Fresnel, [75], [131]
Frictionless medium, [17], [131], [136], [224]
Fundamental medium, [54]
Galaxy, [325], [346]
Gaseous nebulae, [313]
Gases, condensation of, [47]
liquefaction of, [47]
kinetic theory of, [49]
Glazebrook, Prof., on aether and gravitation, [22]
Globular clusters of stars, [314]
Gravitation, law of, [61], [65]
universal, [24]
intensity of, [27]
law of proportion, [26]
cause of, [1], [282]
and binary stars, [25]
Gravity, centre of, [325]
Great Bear, [307]
Grove, [83]
Halley's comet, [296]-7
Hamilton, Sir W. R., [247]
Head of comets, [298]
Heat is motion, [98]
a mode of motion, [107]
radiant, [109]
dynamical equivalent of, [116]
effects of, [107]
nature of, [98]
radiation of, [109]
transformation of, [87]
Heat engine, Carnot's, [116]
of sun, [109]
and matter, [100]
and work, [114]
refraction of, [121]
Helmholtz, Von, [45], [86]
Hercules, [257], [271], [307]
Herschel, Sir J., [3], [4], [7], [226], [228], [281], [299], [301], [310], [321]
Sir W., [109], [271]-2, [313]
Hertz, [138], [159], [182]
Hicks, Prof., [13]
Hodograph of planets, [247]
Hot springs, [90]
Huggins, [313]-14
Huyghens, [54], [123], [125], [128]
Hydrogen, [40], [42], [44], [60], [93], [314], [333]
Hypotheses, [3], [338]
Ice, [42]
Identity of heat and light, [119]
light and electricity, [156], [160], [165]
aether and electricity, [331]
Imponderable, [71]
Impressed force, [20]
Impressible aether, [78]
Induction, electric, [174]-5
magnetic, [199]
Faraday's theory of, [175]
Inertia of matter, [52]
of aether, [330]
Intensity of light, [28], [146]
of heat, [28], [113]
of electricity, [184]
of gravity, [28]
Iron, [42]
expansion by heat, [101]
contraction by cold, [102]
Joule, 85, [114]
Jupiter, 26, [68]
mass of, [235]
satellites of, [149], [178]
rotation of, [219]
orbital velocity of, [251], [265]
size of, [235]
distance from sun, [242], [251]
density of, [242]
and comets, [305]
Kant, [317]
Kelvin, Lord, [43], [71], [77], [80], [95], [216], [227]
on aether, [56]-7
on vortex atom, [63]
on compressible aether, [291], [315]
on light, [151]
Kepler's laws, [32]
first, [33], [256]-9
second, [36], [260]-2
third, [37], [263]-5
on vortex motion, [221]-2
Kinetic energy, [89]
electro, [217]

Kirchhoff, [43]
Laplace, [317]
nebular hypothesis, [317]
Larmor, Dr., [22], [44], [56], [63], [93], [163]
on electrons, [284]
on aetherial physics, [22], [327]-9
Lavoisier, [42]
Law of gravitation, [24]
of inverse squares, [27]
Laws of electricity, [184]
of light, [145]
of heat, [113]
of motion, [9], [15], [233]
Lead, [88], [333]
Lebedew, [32], [76], [153]
Le Verrier, [25]
discovery of Neptune, [25]
Leyden jar, [157]
Liebnitz, [223]
Light, [75]
a mode of motion, [122]
corpuscular theory of, [123]
undulatory theory of, [123], [136]
electro-magnetic theory of, [156]
path of a ray of, [144]
intensity of, [145]
reflection of, [136]
refraction of, [135]
aberration of, [149]
composition of, [139]
velocity of, [148]
zodiacal, [277]
transverse vibration of, [130]
Lines of force, electric, [173]
magnetic, [201]-3
Liquefaction of gases, [47]
Liquid air, [47]
Liquids, [48]
Little Bear, [307]
Dog, [307]
Lockyer, [109]
Lodge, Dr., [219]
on aether density, [69]
on aether, [284], [289], [328], [332]
on electric inertia, [330]
on electricity, [64], [69], [284], [285]
on force, [17]
on gravitation, [283]
Lorentz on light, [154]
Lyra, [307]
MacLaurin, [2], [10], [17]
Magnesium, [79]
Magnet, [21]
Magnets, bar, [199]
moving, [211]
Magnetic axis, [202]
field, [199]
lines of force, [200]
shells, [205]
equator, [202]
induction, [199]
variation, [208]
molecules of, [193]
polarity, [194]
Magnetism of earth, [207]-12
of planets, [211]
cause of solar, [211]
Ampère's theory of, [193]
Mars, [68], [79]
a magnet, [196]
rotation of, [219]
size of, [236]
orbital velocity of, [251]
satellites of, [178]
orbit of, [33]
Mass, [27], [53], [187]
of earth, [235], [242]
of planets, [235], [242]
of sun, [190]
Matter, elements of, [40]
properties of, [42], [50]
and motion, [41], [322]
conservation of, [42]
divisibility of, [44]
four states of, [48]
aetherial basis of, [48], [333]
physical constitution of, [334]
Maxwell, J. C., [43], [73], [85], [151], [211]
on physical lines of force, [168], [203]-5, [288]
on aether, [59], [206]
on magnetism, [205]
on electro-kinetic energy, [180], [217]
on aether, [58]
Mayer, [84], [86], [114], [118]
McCullagh, [75]
Mechanical energy, [87]
Medium, Descartes on a, [221]
Kepler on a, [222]
Mercury, [68], [79]
a magnet, [196]
rotation of, [219]
eccentricity of orbit, [33]
mass of, [242]
orbital velocity of, [251]
Meteorites, [95], [118]
Meteors, [31], [85], [118]
Michelson and Morley, [7], [67]
Milky way, [79], [309], [314]
Molecules, [44]
Momentum, [20]
Moon, [61]
Motion of stars, [310]
planetary, [253]
of sun, [274]
of aether, [80]
and work, [95]
modes of, [92], [122], [163]
first law of, [15], [16], [239]
second law of, [19], [244]
third law of, [20], [251]
Multiple stars, [308]
Natural philosophy, [4]
Nebulae and aether, [313]
structure of, [314]
spiral, [322]
annular, [320]
elliptical, [320]
planetary, [321]
spectrum of, [314]
irregular, [319]
Nebular hypothesis, [317]
Nebulous stars, [311]
Neptune, [68]
discovery of, [25]
mass of, [235]
orbital velocity of, [251], [265]
distance from sun, [242]
a magnet, [196]
Newton's coloured rings, [107]
Optics, [72], [98], [122]
letter to Bentley, [2], [96]
Rules of Philosophy, [3]
Principia, [3], [7], [38]
emission theory, [123]
law of gravitation, [24]
atoms, [44]
on aether, [98]
Nichols and Hull, [32], [153]
Ocean, [81], [90]
Operations, cycle of, [114]
Optics, Newton's, [2], [122]
Orbital motions of planets, [266]
Orbit of earth, [33]
of Venus, [33]
Orbits of satellites, [34]
of planets, [33]-4, [266]
moon, [267]
stars, [310]
sun, [270]
Origin of sun's heat, [95]
Orion, [79], [307], [314], [319]
Oxygen, [40], [44], [60], [93]
Parallelogram of forces, [15]
Pendulum, [88]
Periodic times, [37]
Perpetual motion, [93], [220]
Phil. Mag., [58], [67], [71], [73], [74], [80]
Phil. Trans., [58], [62], [64], [75]
Philosophy, Rules of, [3]
Phobos, [38]
Physical lines of force, [203]-6
Pitch of Sound, [105], [120], [139]
Plane of ecliptic, [277]-9
Planetoids, [31]
Planets, minor, [31]
origin of, [240]
orbits of, [33], [266]
electrified bodies, [177]
masses of, [242]
relative distances of, [242]
orbital velocities of, [251]
periodic times of, [251]
Platinum, [48]
Pleiades, [79]
Polarization, [176]
Potential energy, [87]
Potential, electric, [170]
magnetic, [194]
Pouillet, M., [109]
Poynting, [91]
Pressure, aetherial, [181]
Preston, Prof., [283]
Prevost, theory of exchanges, [105]
Primitive impulse, [9], [10], [12], [319]
Principia, Newton's, [3], [7], [38]-9, [122]
Properties of matter, [42]
Quantity of sun's heat, [109]
Query, [18]-[19]
Optics, [72], [122]
Radiant heat, [109]
energy, [115]
Radiation, [104]
Radius Vector, [26]
Rankine, [103]
Rays, actinic, [141]
dark heat, [140]
infra-red, [141]
ultra-violet, [140]
Rontgen, [341]
X, [341]
Rectilinear propagation of light, [144]
of heat, [111]
Reflection, [160]
Refraction, [160]
Relative motion of aether and matter, [224]-6
Resistance to motion, [17]
Resisting medium, [228]
Reversible cycle, [116], [118]
Rings, vortex, [45]
Rival theories, [8]
Rivers, [89]-[90]
Roemer, and velocity of light, [148]
Rotation of earth, [219]
of planets, [219]
of sun, [246]
Rotatory motion, [93]
Rucker, Prof., [59]
Rules of Philosophy, [3]
first, [3]
second, [4]
third, [3], [7]
Rumford, [98]
Running water, [95]
Satellites of Mars, [38], [178]
Jupiter, [149], [178]
Uranus, [254]
Neptune, [254]
Saturn, [26]-7, [68]
mass of, [235], [242]
orbital velocity of, [251], [265]
rotation of, [219]
density of, [242]
a magnet, [196]
satellites of, [178]
Schuster, Prof., [8], [218], [311]
Sirius, [306], [308]-9
Sodium, [43]
Solar system, motion of, [257], [271]
spectrum, [79], [139]
magnetism, [211]
Sound, [75]
waves, [104], [120]
Space, interstellar, [310], [313]
Spectroscope, [47], [79]
Spectrum analysis, [50], [139]
Spiral nebulae, [322]
Stars, fixed, [58]
number of, [11], [306]
binary, [309]
distances of, [280]
magnitude of, [306], [309]
colour of, [79], [308]
motion of, [310]-11
nebulous, [320]
proper motions of, [312]
variable, [307]
double, [308]
clusters of, [314]
orbits of, [310]
are magnets, [307]
Stokes, Sir G., [69], [152], [218]
String, [21]
Sun, diameter of, [280]
constitution of, [79]
a magnet, [164], [198]-9
mass of, [190]
heat of, [109]
motions of, [270]
orbital velocity of, [35]
rotation of, [246]
centre of two forces, [186]
Tails of comets, [300], [304]
straight, [300]
curved, [301]
multiple, [300]
Tait, Prof., [18], [40]-1, [88], [247]
Telescope, [79]
Temperature, [104]-5
Terrestrial magnetism, [207]-12
gravity, [29]
Theory, atomic, [44]
rules for making, [3]
undulatory, [123]
of exchanges, [105]
Thermodynamics, first law of, [87], [114]
second law of, [116]
Thomson, J. J., Prof., [43], [326], [335]
Tidal water-power, [88]
Tides, [89], [96]
Torsion balance, [185]
Trade winds, [96], [249]
Transformation of energy, [86]
of motion, [93]
Transverse vibration of light, [130]
Tuning-fork, [104]
Tympanum, [120]
Tyndall on radiation, [104], [106]
on light, [71]
on Lines of Force, [174]
on aether, [77]
on atoms, [106]
on aether waves, [112]
Ultra-violet rays, [140]
red rays, [140]
Unity of universe, [322]-9
Universal gravitation, [24]
aether, [58]
Universe, [313], [322], [347]
Uranus, [68]
mass of, [235]
density of, [242]
orbital velocity of, [265]
a magnet, [196]
Ursa Major, [307]
Minor, [307]
Vapour, [49]
Variation, magnetic, [209]-11
Velocity of light, [148]
of electric waves, [182]
of heat waves, [148]
of falling bodies, [21]
of wave motion, [76]
Velocity, angular, [250]
Venus, [33], [68], [79]
a magnet, [197]
mass of, [235]
rotation of, [219]

orbital velocity of, [251]
periodic time of, [251]
Vibration, atomic, [75]
Vibrations, transverse, [130]
longitudinal, [130]
of sound, [123]
Vibratory motion, [91]
Vogel, Prof., [308], [312]
Vogt, Prof., [332]
Volume of sun, [27]
Von Asten, [234], [296]
Vortex theory, [92], [337]
motion, [221]-4
atom, [93], [126], [337]
rings, [125], [337]
Vortices, molecular, [103]
Water waves, [124]
currents, power of, [95]
composition of, [141]
power, [88]
Wave front, [128]
motion, [124], [160]
Wave lengths, [120]
envelope, [112]
Waves, chemical, [141]
sound, [104], [120], [124]
light, [126]
heat, [141]
electric, [159]
spherical, [112]
electro-magnetic, [165]
Weight, [29], [69], [84]
variation of, [29]
pound, [30]
Whewell, [3], [221]
Winds, [81], [90]
energy of, [90]
trade, [225]
Work, [96]
and energy, [84]
from heat, [116]
Young, Thomas, [54], [64], [67], [123]
on aether, [58]
fourth hypothesis, [70]
Prof., of America, on electric space, [166]
Zinc, [88]
Zodiacal light, [277]-9