abstracts: physical chemistry 501 



PHYSICS. — La mesure des temperatures elevees par le thermometre a gaz. 

 Arthur L. Day and R. B. Sosman. J. d. Physique (5), 2: 727- 

 749; 831-844; 899-911. 1912. 

 A translation into French, by Prof. P. Chappuis, of "High Tempera- 

 ture Gas Thermometry" (Pubhcation of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington, No. 157, 1911). The material has been somewhat con- 

 densed and rarranged, and the later work on the revision of the lower 

 portion of the high temperature scale and on the boiling point of sulfur 

 ("The nitrogen thermometer scale from 300° to 630° with a direct de- 

 termination of the boiling-point of sulfur. Am. J. Sci. (4), 33: 517-533. 

 1912) added. A. L. D. 



ELECTRICITY. — The analysis of alternating current waves by the 

 method of Fourier, with special reference to methods of facilitating 

 the computations. F. W. Grover. Scientific paper 203, Bull. 

 Bureau of Standards. 1913. 

 The natural method for the analysis of alternating electromotive 

 force and current curves is by means of the classic equations of Fourier, 

 but on account of the labor involved, recourse is often had to graphical 

 or approximate methods. Runge has shown that, by grouping similar 

 terms, the number of terms, which need to be calculated in the Fourier 

 method, may be materially reduced, but his work does not seem to be 

 generally known. The present paper has for its purpose the presenta- 

 tion of the method of Runge in a form which shall be of especial serv- 

 ice in making numerical computations. By systematic arrangement 

 of the work, and by use of tables given, the labor of calculation has 

 been very considerably reduced. Examples of the analysis of actual, 

 experimentally obtained curves are given, which illustrate the methods 

 of computation, and the practical applications which may be made of 

 the results of the analj^ses. F. W. G. 



PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY.— T/ie physical chemistry of Seger cones. 

 Robert B. Sosman. Trans. Am. Ceramic Soc, 15 : 482-498. 1913. 

 The relation of certain simple principles of physical chemistry to the 

 behavior of the Seger pyrometric cones, which are widely used in the 

 ceramic industry for the indication of heat effects in the kilns, was 

 illustrated by experiments and charts. The high temperature cones 

 Nos. 28 to 42 form a simple two-component series composed of alumina 

 and silica. Their behavior agrees well with the known properties of 

 this system, taking into account the three retarding influences: (1) lack 

 of initial homogeneity, (2) slow rate of fusion of silica, and (3) high 



