228 



SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN 1901. 



By W. H. Cadman. 



During the past year many great and noble men 

 have passed away, including several of the leading 

 physicists of the present time. Irreparable gaps 

 are thus left in the ranks of the leaders in physical 

 science which time alone can repair. Fortunately 

 for us their works survive. Each has laid his 

 bricks, whether few or many, upon the vast and 

 beautiful path of science, making firm foundations 

 for future progress. As we turn to take a short 

 retrospective view, we find on all sides a general 

 trend of advancement, suggesting promising de- 

 velopments in the near future. 



Owing to the numerous divisions and sub- 

 divisions of physics, and the number of problems 

 which have engaged the attention of workers 

 during the past year, no attempt can be made to 

 give a complete survey of the subject, but our aim 

 will be to consider briefly a few questions of much 

 practical interest. Progress is generally a natural 

 growth, extending over considerable periods of 

 time. In each instance the product of an evolu- 

 tion is before us, so that it is difficult to fully 

 differentiate or record the exact contribution of a 

 given year. Sometimes, however, progress is 

 strikingly spasmodic. Although not one of the 

 following examples originated in 1901, we may 

 take them as types. Faraday's well-known piece 

 of apparatus which we call the induction coil 

 after many years attained the type commonly 

 known as the Ruhmkorff coil. Thereafter came 

 the invention of practical forms of dynamo- 

 electrical generators, and the widespread applica- 

 tion of electricity to commercial operations. This 

 •opened up a new field of growth, and by a simple 

 inversion the induction coil of the laboratory 

 became the electric welding machine and the 

 transformer of the electrician. Finally the dis- 

 covery of the X-ray phenomena and recent progress 

 in wireless telegraphy have each created a new 

 demand for the induction coil, and thus stimulated 

 manufacturers in perfecting its construction. 



Scarcely a single investigation is undertaken by 

 a physicist in which temperature does not play a 

 direct or indirect part. Its accurate measurement 

 has long been a favourite field of research and 

 development. During the past year the platinum 

 resistance thermometer, with its admirable quali- 

 ties, has satisfied many of the requirements of a 

 practical working standard. A few remarks upon 

 the tendency of the times as regards steam motors 

 may not be out of place. The phenomenon of heat 

 involved in their action justifies bringing them 

 within the broad domain of physics. To-day we 

 find that steam-turbines, when properly designed, 

 with due regard to the thermodynamic laws, even 

 surpass in efficiency the very best engines of the 

 old type. 



In view of the manifold interests that centre in 



the subject of acoustics, scientific and commercial, 

 it seems strange that during the past year there 

 has been so little systematic exploring in this 

 department. Two or three matters of industrial 

 as well as scientific importance may be noted, 

 namely, the enormous development of speaking 

 instruments, such as phonograph, graphophone, 

 and gramophone, and the many improvements in 

 organ-pipes and reed-stops. 



The papers presented to the Mathematics and 

 Physics Section at the Glasgow meeting of the 

 British Association were unusually numerous, and 

 created several interesting discussions, that on the 

 magnetic effect of electric convection being par- 

 ticularly worthy of note. Dr. Cremieu described 

 his experiments, which gave negative results. 

 Lord Kelvin's suggestion of waiting for a repeti- 

 tion of the experiments before accepting the 

 conclusion as final was important, since there was 

 indirect evidence against Cremieu's results. In 

 consequence of a painstaking research Pender has 

 just experimentally confirmed this indirect evi- 

 dence, and has proved beyond doubt that electric 

 convection does produce magnetic action. Had 

 Cremieu's results been accepted an entire recon- 

 struction of the electro-magnetic theory would 

 have been necessary. 



Experiments on viscosity performed during the 

 past year by Professor Gray and his pupils seem 

 likely to have an important bearing on the 

 molecular theory. The new pressure-gauge devised 

 by Professor Morley is an instrument long needed 

 for measuring very low pressures. 



During the past year the commercial import- 

 ance of aluminium as a conductor of electricity 

 and as a fuel has been suggested. 



The patience and perseverance in experimenting 

 during the past few years have led to the gradual 

 surmounting of many of the difficulties which first 

 beset wireless telegraphy. Mr. Marconi, Professor 

 Seaby, and the other pioneers have met with pro- 

 mising success. Communications can now be 

 made between ship and ship, and ship and shore. 

 Doubtless the near future will see greater develop- 

 ments in this direction. Indeed, during the last 

 days of the passing year Mr. Marconi claims to 

 have communicated messages between the shores of 

 America and England. A new principle of wire- 

 less signalling is being put to the test. It is 

 expected to prove a valuable method for controlling 

 torpedoes and submarine boats from the shore. 



Much has been done during the past year in the 

 application of electricity to railway engineering, 

 for telephone, telegraph, and lighting purposes. 

 The problem of constructing electric railways to 

 compete with existing lines is also receiving careful 

 attention. 



Physical chemistry has advanced considerably 

 of late, thanks to the labours of Arrhenius, van't 

 Hoff and Ostwald. 



We are glad to find the science of Physics is 



