Abstract
IN the discussion on relativity at the Royal Society on February 5 (NATURE, February 12), Mr. Jeans stated that the FitzGerald-Lorentz contraction theory presented grave difficulties in the case of a wheel rotating about a fixed axle, so that the circumference would contract while the radius would not. Surely these difficulties are not so grave as would appear at first sight? Let us adopt the point of view of the old-fashioned non-relativist to whom space is rigid and Euclidean, even though his measuring instruments may change and so introduce errors in his measurements. A scale is not a rigid invariable unit of length. Its length, even if its orientation is unchanged, depends on its temperature and the tensile or compression t stresses to which it is subjected. If we change its temperature, keeping the stresses constant, its length (as measured by a standard scale at fixed temperature) varies. But we may by suitable means prevent the variation of length, in which case the change of tem perature will cause a change of stress. Similarly, on the FitzGerald-Lorentz theory, turning the scale to a different orientation relative to the supposed æther stream causes a change in the electric forces to which the cohesion of the molecules is ultimately due, so that, if the temperature and the external stresses remain constant, the length changes. In this case, however, we cannot, detect the change directly, as it would be necessary, to turn our standard scale also, an I it, too, would change. If for any reason the change of length is prevented, the FitzGerald-Lorentz effect causes a change of stress.
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POOLE, H. The FitzGerald-Lorentz Contraction Theory. Nature 105, 200 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105200a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105200a0
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