190
DOC. 269 JUNE
1911
269.
From Ernest
Solvay,
with
an
Invitation
to
the
Solvay
Congress[1]
Brussels,
43 Rue des
Champs
Elysees
9
June
1911
Dear
Sir:
We
propose
to
take
steps to
obtain
the
following
general
distribution of the
reports
on
the
questions
mentioned
in
the
enclosed invitation:
For the
questions
1
Messrs.
Lorentz
2
Knudsen
3
Perrin
4
Jeans
5
Planck
6
Einstein
7
Sommerfeld
8
Nernst[2]
We felt
that
we
must
secure
in advance the consent
of
Messrs.
Lorentz, Nernst,
Planck,
and Knudsen.
We
hope
that
you
will
agree
to
take
upon yourself
the
report
assigned
to
you;
it would do
us
great
honor.
Looking
forward
to
a
positive
response,
we
beg
to
assure
you,
dear
Sir,
of
our
highest
esteem.
signed:
Ernest
Solvay
Brussels, 43
Rue
des
Champs
Elysees, 9
June
1911
Invitation
to
an
"International
scientific congress
for
the elucidation of
some
current
questions concerning
the molecular
and
kinetic
theories."[3]
Dear
Sir:
To all
appearances,
we are
at
the moment in the midst
of
new
developments
regarding
the
principles
on
which the classical
molecular
and
kinetic
theory
of
matter
has
been
based.
First of
all,
the
logical
development
of
this
theory
leads to
a
radiation formula
whose
validity
is
incompatible
with all
empirical
results; furthermore,
from this
same
theory
also
follow
the
propositions
on specific
heats
(the
law
concerning
the
specific
heats of
polyatomic gases
with
respect
to
variations of
the
temperature,
the
validity
of
the
Dulong
and
Petit rule
down to
very
low
temperatures)
that
are
likewise
refuted
by
numerous
measurements.
Previous Page Next Page