Does Matter Exist? 



kilometres per second, nearly the velocity of 

 light. Let us note this result. It deserves to 

 retain our attention, because it shows us that 

 the highest speed we can impart to matter is 

 apparently equal to the velocity of the ether 

 waves. It would be unscientific to attribute 

 this coincidence to chance. We shall, in fact, 

 see that an explanation is possible, and at the 

 same time we shall complete our knowledge of 

 the nature of electrons. With this end in view 

 let us resume and carry to its conclusion our 

 comparison between electrons and moving pro- 

 jectiles. Let us consider a bullet flying through 

 the air. Has it only to cut through an inert 

 and motionless medium? We all know that 

 this is not the case, but that the bullet is accom- 

 panied by a wake which spreads through the 

 air after the passage of the projectile. This wake 

 is a disturbed region, deriving its movement 

 from the energy of the projectile, so that the 

 energy of the gun is not expended on the mass 

 of the bullet alone, but is partly absorbed by the 

 column of air disturbed by the wake. All these 

 things happen as if the projectile had an apparent 



mass greater than its real mass. The excess of 



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