tN THE FIELD fcOUtfD A THEOfeETICAL UKUTZIAN 06C1LLATOK. 



177 



verse magnetic wave = 248 '46v, and the equal negative velocity of both waves 

 = 279 '64v. Thus again it appears more feasible to test experimentally the negative 

 velocity of this transverse electric wave than that of the magnetic wave. 



With regard to these negative waves, we can only cite whut HKKT/ has remarked 

 on the infinite motion which occurs with a steady oscillator (' Electric Waves," 

 p. 14G) : " At an infinitesimal distance from the origin the velocity of propagation 

 is even infinite. This is the phenomenon which, according to the old mode of expres- 

 sion, is represented by the statement that UJKMI the electromagnetic action, which 

 travels with velocity '/A [our v], there is superposed an electrostatic force travelling 

 with infinite velocity. In the sense of our theory we more correctly represent tin- 

 plirnomrnoii by saying that fundamentally the waves which are being drvelo|rd 

 do not owe their formation solely to processes at the origin, but arise out of 1 1 it- 

 conditions of the whole of the surround ing spaa-, which latter, according to our 

 theory, is the time seat of the energy." 



The following figure gives the velocity curve i.f tin- transverse component electric 

 wave or of the total electric wave perpendicular to the axis diagrammatical ly. 



Velocity Curve of Magnetic Wave And \ 

 NUtv of Axial Component ilectricfbrct.} 



Velocity Curve of Transverse i 



Component Electric W&ve. ) 



Oa tit r /\ sin i 

 be - i- 

 Od - 

 Oe - 



., gf - i-nefioq l (i-i-aQaaf t >/sin I X>. 



(9.) It is noteworthy that HERTZ, speaking of the electric force in the equatorial 

 plane, i.e., 



says that it cannot possibly be broken up into two simple waves travelling with 

 ilitl'crent velocities (' Electric Waves,' p. 151). The explanation of HERTZ'S difficulty 

 is, perhaps, simple ; for, having put = ir/2 , the distinction between <, and 9, was 



VOL. CXCUI. A. 2 A 



