On the Apparent Mass of the Ions

Hendrik Lorentz

1900

Exported from Wikisource on August 9, 2023

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 H. A. Lorentz (Leiden)

On the apparent mass of the ions.

It is known that by observations of cathode rays we were

able to derive the ratio , i.e. the ratio between the charge
of an ion and its mass . The question arises, what is
meant by that mass. In any case we must attribute an
apparent mass to the ion, as it generates a certain energy in
the ether by virtue of its motion. This apparent mass will be
denoted by . It is possible that the ion also possesses a
real mass in the ordinary sense of the word; in this case,
. If this is not the case, then .

So we have the inequality

when there still is a real mass besides the apparent mass;

otherwise

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So we want to write

where is.

Now

if we conceive the ion as a sphere, is the radius of this

sphere, and means the surface density of the charge.

This formula allows for an interesting conclusion on the

radius of the ions. If, namely, we substitute for the now
specified value into the inequality, we obtain an inequality
for the radius. We have

thus

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and thus

and

and

The magnitude is unfortunately not known. If we take the

charge of an ion in a cathode ray to be as great as in an
electrolytic hydrogen, and presuppose the size of a
hydrogen molecule, we obtain for a magnitude of order
cm, that is certainly not an arbitrarily small
magnitude, but a lower limit.

The question of whether or not a real mass exists besides

the apparent mass of an ion, is extremely important;
because by that we touch the question of the relation of
ponderable matter with ether and electricity. I am far away
to announce a decision, but I would like to cite but a few
questions whose resolution can potentially bring us further
in that question.

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The first question is whether an ion rotates in a magnetic
field. Actually, we should expect that. Since if an ion is
present, and if a magnetic field is caused, then a rotation
arises, as it can easily be derived from the formation of
induced currents. Of course this is also the case when the
ion flies into an already existing magnetic field. The
velocity of rotation will depend on the magnitude of the
mass; if only apparent mass is present, and even a
corresponding moment of inertia, then the rotation velocity
has a certain value. If, however, a real moment of inertia is
added, the rotation is slowing down. Unfortunately I can not
find any phenomenon, from which we could conclude
anything about this rotation.

A second means by which we maybe could decide the

question of the relationship between the apparent and real
mass is the following:

The value for the apparent mass was given above only in
first approximation. If the velocity is such that it is
comparable to the velocity of light, then additional
magnitudes will be added. For a straight path of the ion we
can calculate the intensity of the field and the size of the
energy and deduce from that the mass factor. In general, the
trajectory will be curvilinear through the influence of the
magnetic field, e.g. circular; then the calculation of the
mass factor will become more complicated, but it can be
carried out. If we denote by the expression above and
is defined as the ratio of the ion velocity to that of light, it

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follows in second approximation for the apparent mass of
the ion in linear motion:

while in a circular motion the term with yields a

different coefficient.

These terms of the second order could now perhaps become

observable, because the velocity of cathode rays increases
up to a third of that of light, hence and . To
come to a decision, we could think of experiments as they
were done by LENARD, to examine the influence of electric
forces on the velocity of cathode rays. He has shown that
the magnetic deflectability of the cathode rays, which is of
course the smaller, the greater the speed, will change when
the rays can pass through the space between two charged
capacitor plates in the direction of the electric force lines.

We could measure the magnetic deflection in the case of an

uncharged capacitor, then in the case of charge in one
direction and then for the other direction. Thus we would
obtain three different values of deflectability, between
which a simple relation should exist, if the terms of second
order could be neglected. If we measure each time the
magnetic field-force required for a particular deflection,
then the squares of these three field forces should form an

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arithmetic row. A deviation from this relationship would
indicate that the terms with shall not be neglected, and
that therefore in any case the apparent mass is noticeable.
Detailed specifications could decide concerning the ratio
between the real and the apparent mass, and concerning the
question whether a real mass exists. It turns out that by
LENARD's experiments we were near to decide about the
existence of terms of the second order.

(Self-lecture of the lecturer.)

Discussion. (Reviewed by the participants.)

W. WIEN. I was recently concerned with similar issues, and
would like to stress that LENARD has observed cathode rays
at low velocities, triggered under the influence of ultraviolet
light. There, he found a small value for the ratio of mass to
charge, namely the decrease lies in the sense which is
required by the theory.

I have tried to transcend over LORENTZ's position, by posing

me the question, whether it would suffice when we only
consider the apparent mass and omit the inertial mass, and
replace it with the electromagnetically defined apparent
mass to present the mechanical and electromagnetic
phenomena in an uniform way. Because the magnetic and

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mechanical phenomena are only connected by the energy
principle so far. I've tried to pose the question as to whether
we could try by MAXWELL's theory, to involve mechanics as
well. The possibility of an electromagnetic explanation of
mechanics was given, after LORENTZ has developed a
conception of the law of gravity, according to which it
would be very similar to electrostatic forces. We would
have to think of matter as only composed of very small
positive and negative charges, which are within a certain
distance from each other. By this condition, the ponderable
mass is not constant but depends on the velocity, and
namely we obtain terms, depending on even powers of the
ratio of velocity to the velocity of light. The numerical
factor by which the second term is multiplied, depends on
the curvature of the trajectory, but also on the shape of the
electric charge. Depending on which different way we
choose the form of electrified molecules, we come to other
numerical factors. Concerning the ordinary motions on
earth, it vanishes because the velocity is very small.
Concerning planetary motions we probably can achieve
something; because we reach velocities at which we have to
consider the terms of second order. On the assumption of a
specific type of charge, leading to the simplest
electromagnetic field, these terms become relevant in a
way, so that the accelerations of two bodies by gravitation
are the same up to a slightly different numerical factor, as if
the bodies attract each other with constant mass according
to WEBER's laws. The electromagnetically defined mass

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comes into play, as if not NEWTON's, but WEBER's law would
apply.

LORENTZ. In essence, we agree; but WIEN already wants to

go further than I do. Anyway, it seemed of interest to me to
look for means, by which we can come to a decision on the
issue discussed. One more thing I would like to add: I made
the assumption that the sphere, which forms an ion, is rigid.
But perhaps one might think that the sphere would be
transformed into an ellipsoid when in motion. This has
some similarity with the diversity, that was pointed out by
WIEN.

VOIGT. I would like to pose the question to the lecturer,

concerning the reflection of cathode rays; should a rotating
ion not be reflected differently, as a non-rotating one?

LORENTZ. Certainly, if one imagines that the reflection

happens on a surface. But if you look at the reflection,
which is more likely to me, as caused by forces that occur at
some distance from the surface of the ion, then those surely
act on the center, and then the influence of rotation
vanishes.

WARBURG. What does the theory say about the velocity of

the ions during reflection? Does it remain the same?

LORENTZ. As far as I know, yes. I have not elaborated on

this.

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WARBURG. MERRITT has found that the velocity of reflection
has not changed. But the experiments of CADY on the
energy of cathode rays are in contradiction to this, so I've
thought that the experiments of MERRITT may not be
completely correct, and maybe we could obtain a velocity
change. I wanted to ask if the theory says something in this
respect.

LORENTZ. I can not say this right now.

(Received September 30, 1900.)

This work is a translation and has a separate

copyright status to the applicable copyright
protections of the original content.

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Original:

This work is in the

public domain in
the United States
because it was
published before
January 1, 1928.

The longest-living
author of this work
died in 1928, so
this work is in the
public domain in
countries and areas
where the
copyright term is
the author's life
plus 94 years or
less. This work
may be in the

11
 public domain in
countries and areas
with longer native
copyright terms
that apply the rule
of the shorter
term to foreign
works.

Translation:

This work is
released under the
Creative
Commons
Attribution-
ShareAlike 3.0
Unported license,
which allows free
use, distribution,
and creation of
derivatives, so

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 long as the license
is unchanged and
clearly noted, and
the original author
is attributed.

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