Difference between revisions of "Ether: What is it?"

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[[Category:Aether|ether]]

Latest revision as of 19:31, 1 January 2017

Scientific Paper
Title Ether: What is it?
Author(s) Amara Graps
Keywords Ether
Published 1996
Journal None

Abstract

(I wrote this in 1989 for a "Technical Writing for Physicists" course at San Jose State University, San Jose, California.)

The properties of light have perplexed scientists ever since humans were capable of giving it thought. Newton thought of light as showers of particles. Young and Fresnel gave evidence for light as waves. Maxwell concluded: "Light consists of electromagnetic waves," after combined electricity and magnetism in his electromagnetic wave theory. If Maxwell's statement is true, then what do the waves travel in, since mechanical waves have to propagate in some medium?

This paper is a brief investigation of that medium called the ether. If light truly is a wave, then an ether is essential.  Alternate link.