Treasure of the Past: III: Gravitational Anisotropy in Crystals

Einstein’s theory of gravitation is based upon a fundamental postulate which asserts that gravitation and inertia are identical in nature and hence indistinguishable. This if true, is of the greatest theoretical importance, for gravitation has heretofore refused to show any relationship to other physical phenomena. A most delicate test of this postulate is possible in a crystal of one of the nonisometric systems; for in such a crystal every known physical property (except inertia and, possibly, weight) varies with the axial direction in the crystal; and it is an interesting question whether, in such a crystal, gravitation will be found to align itself with inertia or will show some variability which will classify it with the great majority of physical phenomena. To test this point, large crystals were weighed in different axial positions with respect to the earth. The specimens examined represented all five nonisometric systems, and were weighed to a precision, in most cases, of 1 part in 10(9). The results were uniformly negative, and to this degree of precision are in Einstein’s favor. Incidentally, this work has shown the practical possibility of using the gravity balance to a precision of I part in 10(9), even when the swing of the beam must.be stopped and the object turned through a considerable angle. A precision of about the same order was attained by Majorana in 1920. In this work it was not necessary to arrest the beam or to touch the load. The next best record (in work of a somewhat different kind) at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures is 7 parts in 10(9).