Page:ComstockInertia.djvu/15

 table of atomic weights becomes a well-nigh insuperable difficulty in the path of the evolutionary theory of the elements.

If we follow the present suggestion, we must search for the components of an element, not by comparing atomic weights, but by comparing the corresponding values of $$N$$, for the atomic weights deviate because of the lost mass accompanying the dissipation of internal energy.

Very recently Sir W. Ramsay has announced several striking discoveries which seem to add much weight to the disintegration theory, and, indirectly, to the views here set forth. Ho found helium, neon, or argon appearing as a product of radium emanation according to the exterior conditions imposed, and he found lithium appearing when a copper-sulphate solution was left in the presence of the emanation. Prof. Ramsay states. I believe, that every source of error was eliminated and that the results were obtained many times.

14. It should be noticed that this theory of loss of mass and its consequences does not require that the whole material mass should be of electromagnetic nature. It only requires that the energy lost in the transformations, explosive or otherwise, should be at the expense of internal electromagnetic energy, i. e., that the forces which expel the $$\alpha$$-particles should be electric or magnetic.

Respecting gravitation.
15. The experiments of many investigators have shown that up to a high degree of accuracy the ratio of mass to weight for different substances is the same. Now if the mass is proportional to the internal energy as here suggested, instead of being proportional to the number of electric nuclei as might be supposed, the conclusion is apparently forced upon us that gravitational attraction is between quantities of confined energy, and not between quantities of "matter" in any other sense.

On this basis, the weight of a calorie at the earth's surface would be of order $$10^{-11}$$ dyne. This is apparently too small to explain the temperature gradient in the earth although the calculation, depending as it does on the mechanical force on confined energy due to a temperature gradient, would certainly depend to a large degree on the medium.

If we assume this gravitational effect, it is interesting to ask whether free energy would also show an attraction for itself. If so, the energy radiated from a gravitational centre like the sun would leave some of itself behind along its path