Return to Physics of the Ether

95. Mechanical Value of the Action of the Ether on Molecules. — We may here cite a few facts and figures illustrative of the great energy of the molecular phenomena, the contemplation of which in connection with a definite physical cause may have some interest; the great energy and intense pressure of the ether being well illustrated by these phenomena.

We will take the well-known substance, water. It is a known fact that the energy developed at the combination of 8 lb. of oxygen with 1 lb. of hydrogen is mechanically equivalent to 47,000,000 foot-lb. From this it may be deduced that by the explosion of the mixed gases, the intensity of the energy developed would be adequate to project the mass of liquid thus formed to a height of eight hundred and forty miles in opposition to gravity.

The ether pressure which urges vibrating molecules together being, on account of the action of the stationary vibration of the intervening medium, necessarily perfectly reciprocal or equal for each molecule, and the mass of the oxygen molecule being eight times that of the double hydrogen molecule constituting the water molecule; also since the velocity developed is inversely as the mass, it follows therefore that in the mutual approach of the molecules during the process of combination, the double hydrogen molecule will receive from the ether eight times the velocity imparted to the oxygen molecule. Hence it may be deduced that the intensity of the energy imparted to the hydrogen molecule during the process is such that it would be competent to project the molecule to a height of about six thousand seven hundred miles, this corresponding to a velocity of about nine miles per second imparted to the molecule. These are simply physical facts follow- ing from the known mechanical value of the process of combination of the gases.

96. Now, if we knew the exact distance traversed by the hydrogen molecule in its approach towards the oxygen molecule, within which distance the above velocity (nine miles per second) was. acquired, it would then be possible to determine the actual value of the portion of the ether pressure which was active in urging the molecules together, compared with the value of gravity; for the distance required to be traversed under the action of gravity in order to acquire the above velocity is known (viz. six thousand seven hundred miles), and the static value of the physical agency which produces a given velocity in a mass of matter is inversely as the distance traversed by the mass in acquiring this velocity.

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The fact before referred to, that a certain part of the translatory motion developed in the molecule during the short distance traversed by it in the process of combination is converted into, vibratory motion, will not affect the comparison, the total energy in the form of motion being the same in any case.

Although the actual distance traversed by the hydrogen molecule in acquiring an energy represented by a speed of nine miles per second is not known, still we may fix a limiting value for this distance, or a value which is with certainty greater than or outside the actual fact, and from this may be deduced the lowest limiting value for the intensity of the ether pressure which was concerned in the effect. It may be taken as quite certain that the distance is less than a millionth of an inch, as this distance is quite accessible to an ordinary microscope, and indeed cannot be regarded as a molecular dimension at all. It will be observed, therefore, that by as much as this distance, taken as a basis, is greater than the actual distance, by so much will the result arrived at for the intensity of the ether pressure concerned in the effect be less than the reality, or be under-estimated.

In order, therefore, to compare the value of the ether pressure active during the process of combination of the molecules with the value of gravity, we must take the distance which would require to be traversed by the molecule under the action of gravity, in order to" acquire the same velocity (nine miles per second) as was acquired in the distance traversed by the molecule in the process of combination, and we must divide the one distance by the other. Therefore, dividing 6700 miles by Tw&rnro inch, we obtain the quotient 424 billions, in round numbers.

This result shows, therefore, that with the above limiting value for the distance traversed by the molecule, the value of the ether pressure which acts against the hydrogen molecule and urges it towards the oxygen molecule is 424 billion times greater than the weight of the double hydrogen molecule, or the value of gravity acting upon it. It may, as before stated, be taken as certain that this estimate for the intensity of the ether pressure is less than the actual fact, since the distance traversed by the molecule has undoubtedly been taken too large. Moreover, this result only represents the difference of the ether pressure upon the opposite sides of the molecule, effective in the process of combination, and not the value of the normal or total ether pressure itself. How- ever, the result arrived at is sufficient to indicate the high value of the ether pressure and the high intensity of the store of motion enclosed in the ether, as the motive agent in these forcible molecular movements of matter.

97. Since the work done in separating molecules is appreciably equal to the work done in the combination of the molecules, it would be possible, therefore, from the above data, to form an estimate of the direct tensile strain or pull that would be required,

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in order to separate from each other the oxygen and hydrogen molecules forming a given quantity of water, it being imagined that a strain could be applied for this object Thus, if we take a grain of water, then the value of the strain required to separate the molecules being four hundred and twenty-four billion times the weight of the hydrogen molecules, and the total weight of the hydrogen molecules in a grain of water being one ninth of a grain; we have accordingly 424 billions X £ grain = 3,000,000 tons, in round numbers. This result shows, therefore, that under the condition that a movement of the hydrogen molecule through a distance not greater than one millionth of an inch would effect separation, a direct tensile strain amounting in total value to not less than three million tons would be required to separate the components of the compound molecules forming one grain of water, or this represents the absolute value of .the portion (or difference) of the ether pressure active in opposing the separation of the molecules.

As before remarked, a millionth of an inch being unquestionably too large as an estimate for distance traversed, the result arrived at for the absolute value of the strain will be by so much less than the actual fact. Also the above result gives only the mean value of the strain, and not its maximum Value. The result may, however, serve as a farther illustration of the high intensity of the pressure of the ether, by which this agent is mechanically qualified to control thus forcibly the equilibrium of the molecules of matter. 98. Important Influence of Subdivision. — One of the most important practical consequences following from the extensive state of subdivision, which is the characteristic of the molecular condition of matter, is the vast extent of surface which is thereby brought under the action of the ether pressure. This is a fact of importance, by a due appreciation of which the great energy of the action of the ether upon molecules will appear no longer discordant or inconsistent, but the fact may be brought into harmony with ordinary mechanical principles, this vast extent of surface being the fitting mechanical condition for the production of static and dynamic effects of extreme intensity.

If, for the purpose of illustration, we suppose a sphere one inch in diameter to be subdivided into a number of small spheres, each one ten millionth of an inch in diameter, then the surface thus exposed would amount to about 5 acres, the total surface increasing directly in proportion as the diameter of the spheres is reduced. Even the air pressure upon such a surface might be reckoned by thousands of tons. What must, therefore, be the case with the intense ether pressure acting upon the molecules of matter ? The extremely high figures previously arrived at as a limiting estimate for the direct static strain that would be required to separate the constituent gaseous molecules forming one grain of water (as representing a portion of the ether pressure upon these molecules)

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will no longer appear discordant when due consideration has been given to the vast extent of surface exposed by these molecules to the play of the ether pressure.

Some idea may perhaps be formed of this, if it be considered that in order to bring this surface into view it would be necessary for the quantity of water forming one grain to be spread out into an extensive film or layer only one water molecule in thickness; it being realized that to separate the components of the compound molecules the ether pressure over the entire film would have to be acted against.

When the high intensity of the ether pressure, and the vast extent of surface exposed to this pressure, are conjointly taken into account, then the observed power with which molecules are con- trolled in stable equilibrium, and the observed extreme energy of the movements "of molecules when the equilibrium of pressure is disturbed, as exhibited in the general phenomena of chemical action, combustion, &c., reconcile themselves with the ordinary principles of mechanics.