Universities, Research and Br^vin Waste 3 



useful in problems connected with hydraulic elevators. It played a 

 fundamental role in solving the initial difficulties connected with flight, 

 and later on it was an essential instrument in solving the problem of 

 stability in relation to aeroplanes. It renders valuable assistance in 

 connection with the finding of necessary data for the putting up of large 

 steel bridges and for erecting other engineering structures. Physical 

 chemistry makes extensive use of the formulae of the calculus. The 

 physiologist, too, when he is confronted with problems in surface tension 

 is forced to call in its aid. 



The same godlike instrument enables the astronomer to follow the 

 earth and the planets in their courses about the sun and to keep track 

 of the moon in its more devious path around the earth as the latter 

 whirls about the sun. It renders it possible for him to measure the 

 combined and varying tugs of the sun and moon on the waters of the 

 earth and with its formulae he traces the paths of the particles of water 

 that go to make up the tides as they travel across the oceans of the earth. 

 By the aid of this instrument applied to the solar system, on the assump- 

 tion that it is regulated by the law of gravitation, Adams and Leverrier, 

 led thereto by certain inequalities noted in the motion of the planet 

 Uranus, deduced the existence and location of the planet Neptune and 

 foretold its mass and orbit. 



Clerk Maxwell it was who formulated the theory of electricity and 

 magnetism in terms of the calculus. Hertz devised the experiment 

 which verified the existence of certain waves in the ether predicted by 

 Maxwell from his theory and Marconi utilized these waves for wireless 

 telegraphy. In later times we have become familiar with X-rays, 

 radio-activity and the theory of electrons. The physicist studies 

 the relative positions of the atoms in a molecule and going beyond dis- 

 tributes the atom itself into electrons. He tells us wonderful stories 

 about the energy locked up in an atom and Sir Oliver Lodge informs us 

 that if this atomic energy were only available a ton of matter day by 

 day would suffice to supply the needs of Great Britain. Going 

 over from the infinitely small to the infinitely great that eminent Dutch 

 astronomer and hardy generalizer, Kapteyn, has launched a scheme 

 to study the structure of the universe. His nearest material is over 

 25 trillion miles away but his scheme is under way and he is steadily 

 accumulating his data. At some stage in the development of all the 

 branches of physical science here referred to Newton's thought has 

 played a role and the calculus has proved itself a helpful instrument in 

 regions undreamed of by its discoverer. 



In what precedes I have touched on the physical sciences and the 

 application of the calculus to them. I have mentioned but a few 



