Undergraduates
I am a sceptic of relativity theory and am trying to become a believer. As far as I know (about this theory), time slows down when some one travels at the speed of light. What about blind people ? Will this effect happen for them as well ?.. I am curious because blind people have nothing to do with light.
A separate Department of Physics is created as part of the College of Engineering, and Theodore B. Comstock, Professor of Mining Engineering and Physics,
is appointed head. When Comstock inexplicably fails to return to campus after summer vacation, Regent Peabody appoints Physics Assistant
Samuel W. Stratton as head.
On Regent Peabody's physics lecture—"The Regent showed some darkroom experiments on Thursday. The magic lantern was put in working
order, but had not been lighted long before some defect in the burner transferred the fire to the tubing. Through that, it traveled into the
oxygen bag. The rubber burned in that gas until enough CO2 was formed to burst the sack, when an explosion occurred. All were more or
less frightened, though none would own it. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was hurt." (Daily Illini, March 1884).
Selim H. Peabody, a professor of mechanical engineering and physics, served as regent from 1881 to 1890. He succeeded in changing the name of the institution from Illinois Industrial University to the University of Illinois in 1885.
