making Fresnelian convection co-efficient simply unity.
Equations (1·21) and (2·21) may be obtained more simply from physical
considerations.
According to Heaviside and Hertz, the real seat of both electric and
magnetic polarisation is the moving medium itself. Now at a point which
is fixed with respect to the ether, the rate of change of electric
polarisation is δD/δ_t_.
Consider a slab of matter moving with velocity _u__{_x_} along the
_x_-axis, then even in a stationary field of electrostatic polarisation,
that is, for a field in which δD/δ_t_ = 0, there will be some change in
the polarisation of the body due to its motion, given by
_u__{_x_}(δD/δ_x_). Hence we must add this term to a purely temporal
rate of change δD/δ_t_. Doing this we immediately arrive at equations
(1·21) and (2·21) for the special case considered there.
Thus the Hertz-Heaviside form of field equations gives _unity_ as the
value for the Fresnelian convection co-efficient. It has been shown in
the historical introduction how this is entirely at variance with the
observed optical facts. As a matter of fact, Larmor has shown (Aether
and Matter) that 1 - 1/μ² is not only sufficient but is also necessary,
in order to explain experiments of the Arago prism type.
A short summary of the electromagnetic experiments bearing on this
question, has already been given in the introduction.
According to Hertz and Heaviside the total polarisation is situated in
the medium itself and is completely carried away by it. Thus the
electromagnetic effect outside a moving medium should be proportional to
K, the specific inductive capacity.
_Rowland_ showed in 1876 that when a charged condenser is rapidly
rotated (the dielectric remaining stationary), the magnetic effect
outside is proportional to K, the Sp. Ind. Cap.
_Röntgen_ (Annalen der Physik 1888, 1890) found that if the dielectric
is rotated while the condenser remains stationary, the effect is
proportional to K - 1.
_Eichenwald_ (Annalen der Physik 1903, 1904) rotated together both
condenser and dielectric and found that the magnetic effect was
proportional to the potential difference and to the angular velocity,
but was completely independent of K. This is of course quite consistent
with Rowland and Röntgen.
_Blondlot_ (Comptes Rendus, 1901) passed a current of air in a steady
magnetic field H_{_y_}, (H = H_{_z_} = 0). If this current of air moves
with velocity _u__{_x_} along the _x_-axis, an electromotive force would
be set up along the _z_-axis, due to the relative motion of matter and
magnetic tubes of induction. A pair of plates at _z_ = ±_a_, will be
charged up with density ρ = D_{_z_} = KE = K. _u__{_s_} H_{_y_}/c. But
Blondlot failed to detect any such effect.
_H. A. Wilson_ (Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. 1904) repeated the experiment
with a cylindrical condenser made of ebony, rotating in a magnetic field
parallel to its own axis. He observed a change proportional to K — 1 and
not to K.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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