We have so far only considered the electrical mass of a charged ion moving with a velocity small compared with that of light. As the speed of light is approached, the magnetic energy can no longer be expressed by the equation already given. The general values of the electrical mass of a charged body for speed were first worked out by J. J. Thomson[1] in 1887. A more complete examination was made in 1889 by Heaviside[2], while Searle[3] worked out the case for a charged ellipsoid. Recently, the question was again attacked by Abraham[4]. Slightly different expressions for the variation of electrical mass with speed have been obtained, depending upon the conditions assumed for the distribution of the electricity on the sphere. The expression found by Abraham, which has been utilized by Kaufmann to show that the mass of the electron is electromagnetic in origin, is given later in section 82.
All the calculations agree in showing that the electrical mass is practically constant for slow speeds, but increases as the speed of light is approached, and is theoretically infinite when the speed of light is reached. The nearer the velocity of light is approached, the greater is the resisting force to a change of motion. An infinite force would be required to make an electron actually attain the velocity of light, so that, according to the present theory, it would be impossible for an electron to move faster than light, i.e. faster than an electromagnetic disturbance travels in the ether.
The importance of these deductions lies in the fact that an electric charge in motion, quite independently of any material nucleus, possesses an apparent mass in virtue of its motion, and that this mass is a function of the speed. Indeed, we shall see later (see section 82) that the apparent mass of the particles constituting the cathode stream can be explained in virtue of their charge, without the necessity of assuming a material body in which the charge is distributed. This has led to the suggestion that all mass may be electrical in origin, and due purely to electricity in motion.
49. Action of a magnetic field on a moving ion. Let us
consider the case of an ion of mass m carrying a charge e and
