Show x I rr- rr I f nr Dr H H. H R. R Christensen checks readings on gravity meter Research Project Housed At Snow A gravity meter has been installed in installed installed in- in stalled at Snow by the Lamont Lament Geological Observatory of Columbia University for research research re research re- re search Into the properties of the earths earth's mantle Operation of the delicate electronic electronic electronic elec elec- device will be supervised by Dr H. H R. R Christensen Snow College physical science division chairman He said that the gravity meter Is used in making observations of solid earth tides These are movements In the earth caused by the attraction of the sun and the moon They are similar to the tides in the oceans According to Dr Dl Christensen the earth responds to the gravitational gravitational gravitational pull of the sun Eun and the moon much as a football re responds spends to air pressure when it is being inflated In other words the earth expands The maximum vertical expansion about six feet feet feet- occurs when the earth and am the moon are in direct line The gravity meter which basically basically basically bas bas- consists of a weight on a sensitive spring records solid earth tides on a tape much as a seismograph records earth earth- quakes Dr Christensen explained that its records enable geophysicists I to to better determine the composition tion of the earth particularly the earths earth's mantle which is the layer between the earths earth's crust and its core The mantle has never been drilled Into and scientists are not sure that material from it has ever reached the surface The gravity meter on the Snow campus is one of eight installed d by the Lamont Observatory a at t points from New York to Cali Cali- forn fornia a. a It is the only one in Utah Others in the West are at Denver and Reno We feel privileged to assist the Lamont Observatory In conducting conducting conducting con con- ducting this research Dr Christensen said It is basic research In an area which science is just beginning to explore and no one can judge what knowledge knowledg e these observations may develop p or In what direction they ma may y lead us as we seek for more morp P information concerning the nature na nature nature na- na ture of the universe |