Nipher — Gravitational Repulsion. 191 



of the masses. Small planets having high and perhaps 

 varying potentials might not follow Newton's law. The 

 value of n would be large and variable. 



In the work represented in Plate XL VI, if we assume 

 that when n was 100, the attraction between the masses 

 being reduced to zero, the potential of the large masses 

 was 30,000 volts, or 100 E. S. C. G. S. units, and that of 

 the suspended masses was 10 volts or 1/30 E. S. C. G. S. 

 unit, then the last equation would give for K' : 



K' — 165800 K 



This result is based upon assumptions and estimates. 

 One inference may be drawn from it. There is nothing 

 here to indicate that the force whose action is repre- 

 sented by Newton's term, should not be the main factor 

 in determining the motion of the masses in our planetary 

 system. 



The large masses represented in Fig. 3 were replaced 

 by boxes of metal, filled with loose cotton batting. They 

 rested upon insulators. They were separated from the 

 screen by sheets of glass, and were put in metallic con- 

 tact with it by means of copper wires. Precisely the same 

 treatment was applied to this system as was given when 

 the large masses were in place. No change in the posi- 

 tion of the suspended masses could be detected. 



The large masses being in position as before described, 

 spring contact brushes were fastened to the blocks of 

 wood upon which the large masses rested. They made 

 contact with the large masses at points midway between 

 the top and bottom of the spheres. A direct current of 

 20 amperes was sent through the two large masses. The 

 axis of the line of flow was in one case practically coin- 

 cident with the line through the centers of gravity of the 

 two masses nearest to each other. The direction of flow 

 was either from the outside contact, to the one nearest 

 the screen, or the reverse, the direction of flow being re- 

 versible by means of a double switch. The screen was 

 insulated from the two large spheres. No effect upon 



