Obsolete theories in physics

scientific model of the atom first proposed by J. J. Thomson in 1904

discredited hypothesis about Solar System planets' orbits

model of the atom devised by Ernest Rutherford

hypothetical planet between the Sun and Mercury

alternative to the Big Bang model of the evolution of the universe

hypothetical star orbiting the Sun, responsible of extinction events

superseded scientific theory about combustion

physical law about blackbody radiation, derived from classical physics, accurate at low frequences but requiring quantum corrections at high frequencies

natural sciences as described by Aristotle

theory

obsolete scientific theory of heat flow

concept similar to inertia and momentum

model of the universe that is not expanding or contracting, e.g. one in which the cosmological constant exactly balances things

class of hypothetical redshift mechanisms

physical quantity, historically invented by G. Leibniz, equivalent to (in modern terminology) twice the kinetic energy

thumb|right|Fig. 6,7 from Prosper-René Blondlot: "Registration by Photography of the Action Produced by N Rays on a Small Electric Spark". Nancy, 1904. N-rays (or N rays) were a hypothesized form of radiation described by French physicist Prosper-René Blondlot in 1903. They were initially confirmed by others, but subsequently found to be illusory.

the point at which a sudden drop in air pressure occurs

Metaphysical description of part of the universe

obsolete kinetic theory of gravity that explained Newton’s gravitational force in terms of streams of unseen particles impacting material objects from all directions

early atomic model in which electrons were positioned at the eight corners of a cube, accounting for the phenomenon of valency

thumb|350px|right|Figure 1: In the classic cyclol reaction, two peptide groups are linked by a N-C' bond, converting the carbonyl oxygen into a hydroxyl group. Although this reaction occurs in a few cyclic peptides, it is disfavored by Thermodynamic free energy|free energy, mainly because it eliminates the [[resonance stabilization of the peptide bond. This reaction was the basis of Dorothy Wrinch's cyclol model of proteins.]]

thumb|The 1925 "Journal of World Ice Theory" ' (WEL; "World Ice Theory" or "World Ice Doctrine"), also known as ' (Glacial Cosmogony), is a discredited cosmological concept proposed by Hanns Hörbiger, an Austrian engineer and inventor. According to his ideas, ice was the basic substance of all cosmic processes, and ice moons, ice planets, and the "global ether" (also made of ice) had determined the entire development of the universe. Hörbiger did not arrive at his ideas through research, but said that he had received it in a "vision" in 1894. He published a book about the theory in 1912 and he

cosmological model equivalent to a zero-energy-density FLRW model

competing theory

physical principle that nature contains no vacuums

astronomical object described by Newtonian mechanics

predecessor to the theory of relativity

Trepidation (from Lat. trepidus, "trepidatious"), in now-obsolete medieval theories of astronomy, refers to hypothetical oscillation in the precession of the equinoxes. The theory was popular from the 9th to the 16th centuries.

ia hypothetical particle

feature of several superseded scientific theories

Energeticism, also called energism or energetics (), is a superseded theory in science that posits that energy is the ultimate element of physical reality. Energeticism was developed during the end of the 19th century by Wilhelm Ostwald, Georg Helm and Pierre Duhem. It was also promoted by physicist Ernst Mach who opposed atomic theory, though his full commitment to it was sometimes ambiguous. Energetiscism attempted to substitute the hypothesis of atoms and molecules by energy relations.

physical concept

Obsolete theory in physics

philosophical argument against general covariance

proposal that visual perception is accomplished by eye beams emitted by the eyes