Experimental investigation as to dependence of gravity on temperature

Abstract

Few experiments have been made with a view of detecting with accuracy any alteration in the weight of a given substance which may accompany variation of its temperature. The recent experiments of Professor Poynting and Mr. Phillips described in the ‘Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ September 13th, 1905, led to a null result. At the time of the publication of this result the Author had been engaged for about a year on a similar line of research, and as the two methods of experiment were entirely different, it was thought advisable to continue with this work in order that the results obtained by the two methods might be compared. Further reference will be made to this matter in the sequel; but it may be noted here that in their experiments a mass of gunmetal was heated externally, while in the present ones a mass of paraffin oil was heated internally.