62 TWO NEW WORLDS 



state implies a lack of density such that atoms 

 are most of the time beyond gravitational range 

 i.e., that their motions are not sensibly affected by 

 gravitational attraction. 



The existence of these states depends in the 

 main upon " temperature," or mean kinetic energy. 

 Now, a greatly-increased density, such as we have 

 in the infra-world, means a greatly-increased co- 

 hesion. It does not mean that a larger proportion 

 of the space occupied by a body is occupied by its 

 material substance, and a smaller proportion by 

 the ether. We have, indeed, supposed all along 

 that the proportion is the same as in our world 

 (reckoning atoms and electrons as " solid " ). It 

 simply means that the particles constituting the 

 atom or electron are 10 11 times denser than the 

 atoms or electrons themselves, just as these, again, 

 are denser than the earth or sun. 



The increased cohesion, while giving the elec- 

 tron the necessary power of resisting disintegration 

 by electric forces, is incapable of maintaining the 

 material of the electron in a permanently solid 

 state. For the same density that brings about the 

 increased cohesion also brings about an increase of 

 mean kinetic energy, otherwise temperature. Hence, 

 the "seas" on the surface of the electron can be 

 liquid although of extreme specific gravity. 



Most chemical actions we know of occur in the 

 liquid state. Given the three states of aggrega- 



