ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY — SMITH 209 



Present researches in nuclear physics in many institutions may re- 

 sult in obtaining information that will be just as extensive in its 

 influence on the developments in the electrical industry as was the 

 discovery of the electron. The production of radioactive substances, 

 through the disintegration of the atom may provide a very useful 

 tool. Naturally, one thinks of using these radiations instead of the 

 X-ray for radiography or for radium in the treatment of disease. 

 Wliile they no doubt will be used to some extent for such purposes, 

 the possibility of using these radiations as a means of studying 

 certain atomic reactions and structures may be even more useful. 

 For instance, by the use of electrical -detection methods, it appears 

 feasible to follow the migration of radioactive atoms through a metal 

 during heat-treating processes. Similarly, it is possible to trace 

 the movement of radioactive substances through a plant or the 

 human body and thus learn more about how and where these sub- 

 stances are assimilated. In contrast to radium, most of these arti- 

 ficial radioactive substances have such a short life that no permanent 

 harm is done to the human system. 



The present methods of generating electric power are so well 

 established that we are inclined to accept them as permanent. 

 Gradual improvements in present methods have reduced the amount 

 of coal used per kilowatt-hour to approximately one-fourth that 

 required 20 years ago. Wliile this improvement is indicative of real 

 progress in steam-power generation, it is still small when compared 

 with the theoretically possible energy that could be gotten from a 

 highly efficient method of energy conversion. 



With an increasing knowledge of the fundamental properties of 

 matter and a better understanding of the conduction of electricity 

 in gases, recent calculations and experimental work indicate that it 

 may be possible to use the electromagnetic properties of the rapidly 

 moving ionized products of combustion of certain fuels in conjunc- 

 tion with some suitable electrical transforming device as a means 

 of generating electric energy. A practical development of this idea, 

 which at least appears to be a possibility at the present time, would 

 result in the use of static electrical devices extracting power from 

 the kinetic energy of the gases of combustion without the intervention 

 of rotating electrical machinery. 



Although these and many other prospective developments that 

 might be mentioned are indefinite and difficult to evaluate, we can 

 look forward with the expectation that the electrical industry will 

 continue to grow under the stimulation and impetus of new scientific 

 discoveries and advances. 



