530 Constitution of Matter [April-July 



all physical and chemical processes in terms of positive electrons, 

 negative electrons, and of the effects produced by these in the ether, 

 or Space devoid of matter. 



If both the mechanists are riglit, and also the physicists, then 

 such phenomena as heredity and memory and intelligence, and our 

 ideas of morality and religion, and all sorts of complicated affairs 

 are explainable in terms of positive and negative electrons and 

 ether. All of these speculations are really outside the domain of 

 science, at least at present. 



It has been remarked by Poincare that each f resh discovery in 

 physics adds a new load on the atom. The conditions which the 

 atoms have to explain may indeed be written down, but to do so is 

 merely to make a complete index f or all books on physics and chem- 

 istry in the widest sense. 



The Zeeman effect, or Separation of a single line in the spectrum 

 by suitable magnetic fields, into two or more lines, proved conclu- 

 sively that the vibrations of negative electrons in the atom are the 

 cause of the disturbances in the ether which we know as light. 



We can form a clear mental picture of the general character of 

 the atom. It is a miniature solar system. The sun is replaced by 

 the positively charged nucleus. The planets, perhaps confined to 

 one or more definite orbits or rings, are replaced by negative elec- 

 trons revolving rapidly around the nucleus. The gravitational f orce 

 is replaced by the electrical attraction between the positive nucleus 

 and negative electrons. 



Bohr endeavors to account for the manner in which two hydro- 

 gen atoms form a molecule. Each atom has a nucleus of positive 

 Charge and a simple electron revolving around it. Their charges 

 are equal and opposite. The nuclei of two such atoms repel each 

 other. The revolving electrons of two atoms close together, if ro- 

 tating in the same direction, constitute two parallel currents of elec- 

 tricity, and these attract one another and arrive in the same plane. 

 It is easy to make a model on a whirling table with the nuclei on an 

 upright rod, the electrons revolving like the governor balls of an 



