SECTION VI 

 2. PHYSICAL RESEARCH IN INDUSTRY AS A NATIONAL 



RESOURCE 



By L. O. Grondahl and Elmer Hutchisson 



Director, Research and Engineering, Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa.; and Head, Department of Physics, 

 University of Pittsburgh; Editor, Journal of Applied Physics, Pittsburgh, Pa., respectively. 



ABSTRACT 



The profound influence that physics has had on 

 human progress is illustrated by means of the steam 

 engine, dynamo-electric machines, sources of light, 

 and communication. From this is developed a defini- 

 tion of physics, and an orientation in regard to the 

 field that shoidd be included in the discussion. At 

 present physics is deliberately made use of as a tool 

 to help in the development of specific industries. This 

 is illustrated by work in geophysics, in the lamp in- 

 dustry, and in communications. 



Since physics is primarily a quantitative science, it 

 has a great deal to do with measurements, and supplies 

 practically ail the measuring instruments used in the 

 physical sciences, pure and applied. Many of the in- 

 struments and much of the apparatus that is developed 

 by physics is not immediately applicable, but finds its 



application in later developments. Numerous illustra- 

 tions of developments that are expected to find such 

 applications are given. 



Physics is a basic science, and much of the work done 

 in physics is at least originally of a purely theoretical 

 interest. Applications frequentlj^ follow even when 

 the early results seem far removed from anything of a 

 practical nature. 



Finally, physics contributes indirectly to progress in 

 many lines because it has an effect on the thinking 

 processes not only of the scientist but of people who 

 come in contact with his work. It produces an opti- 

 mistic attitude towards problems, and a conviction 

 that solutions can be found if all the facts are known, 

 and are properly correlated. 



In the last SO years physics has exerted a more powerful beneficial 

 influence on the intellectual, economic, and social life of the world 

 than has been exerted in a comparable time by any other agency in 

 history. In spite of this fact, however, many people do not know 

 who the physicist is or what he does. The public is continually 

 excited about this or that issue of politics, tariffs, codes, or interna- 

 tional relationships which are of far less human import than the 

 past and future of accomplishments in that body of science repre- 

 sented by — the American Institute of Physics. Its influence has 

 far exceeded that of wars, political alignments or social theories.' 



Many textbooks of physics begin with a prosaic 

 definition of physics as the science of energy and matter. 

 In fact, the subject is often treated in that mamier, and 

 students find it dull and uninteresting, and believe that 

 like a dead language physics is unchanging and fully de- 

 veloped. It is our purpose here to show that this is far 

 from the truth. Rather, physics is a vital living 

 science, changing and expanding at an extraordinary 

 rate. It enters every phase of our everyday hfe, and in 

 research it offers industry an opportunity for fabulous 

 returns on its investment. The developments of the 



• Compton, K. T., et al. Symposium. Physics in Industry. 

 American Institute of Physics, 1937, p. ix. 



236 



New York, 



past few years have been so startlmg that even a state- 

 ment as strong as the one of President Compton, quoted 

 above, needs but few examples to substantiate its truth. 

 In what follows an attempt will be made first of all to 

 show the place of plu'sics in our everyday existence. 

 Next, typical examples of the application of phj^sics m 

 the lamp industry, in oil prospecting, and in the coni- 

 niimications industry will demonstrate the kind of 

 scientist the physicist is and how he works. Finally, 

 after a review of the use of physical instruments as tools 

 in industry, an attempt will be made, upon the basis of 

 the pure research now going on in university and 

 similar laboratories, to suggest possible trends in the 

 industrial pliysics of tomorrow. 



Physics Has Profound Influence 

 on Human Progress 



The true value of physics in the past, present, and 

 future development of our civilization is not easily 

 estimated. Such devices as the wheel, the wheel and 

 a.xle, the wedge, pulleys, time systems and means of 

 measuring time, the compass, and many others were 



