296 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 



ordinary molecules of a gas. Their size and 

 velocity are those of the molecules of a gas with 

 the atomic weight lying between the above limits. 

 These molecules, although they do not appear to 

 carry a free charge of electricity, are nevertheless 

 always attracted towards an electrode which is 

 negatively charged. They also give out a radiation 

 which is very penetrating and not deflected by a 

 magnet. 



Model of Radio-active and Phosphorescent 

 Molecules 



If a charged sphere is oscillating round a 

 fixed centre, in such a manner that the period of 

 vibration of the sphere is less than that of the 

 electricity over the surface,^ the electromotive 

 intensity and the magnetic force diminish very 

 rapidly as we recede from the sphere, the magnetic 

 field being practically confined to the inside of 

 the sphere ; so that in this case the energy of the 

 moving sphere remains in its immediate neighbour- 

 hood. Hence if we imagine a molecule like this it 

 is only at a collision that a molecule which 

 behaves in this fashion will exercise its influence 

 on surrounding molecules. 



We are familiar with vibrations of electrons 



which give rise to undulations in the aether, whose 



refrangibility can give spectra many times the 



length of the visible spectrum, but there does not 



1 See J. J. Thomson, Phil. Mag., 1881; also "Eeoent 

 Besearches." 



