THE ATOM

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 7

THE ATOM

RESEARCH WORK DESCRIBED

ADDRESS BY SIR E. EUTHERFORD

Sir Ernest Rutherford, tha noted scientist of Cambridge University, now on a visit to New Zealand, addressed the students of Victoria College yesterday' afternoon on the subject, "The structure of the Atom." He outlined the research work now in prosress at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge ; spoke of the different lines of attack ou the problem, and described his own researches, independently of the work of other research scientists. One method was. the direction of Alpha particles at great speed toward the atoms of matter under investigation. These Alpha particles, according to the speaker, were like comets projected by some outside"being into our solar system, and from the deflections they experienced it was hoped that we would learn something about the nucleus or sun of the atom. The problem was: How was the nucleus-or sun of the atom built up? " The reason why this problem is so important, said the speaker, is that the atom is the source of immense energy. Although the weights of the parts of the atoms are so small, yet they are so near together that the electrical forces and pressures exercised on each other are of the .order of thousands of tons; so that enormous stores of .energy are locked up iuside the atom; and if we discover the nature of the atom it may be possible at some future date to utilise these forces.

One of the research workers at the Cavendish' Laboratory, said, Sir 'Ernest Rutherford, was endeavouring'to create larger magnetic forces than had ever been created hitherto, with the object of watching the behaviour of the atoms in the magnetic field, so as to find out their nature. Another research worker (Mr. Aston) was weighing the atoms by a refined method Jar more sensitive and accurate than the most sensitive chemical balances.

Sir Ernest Rutherford showed how these different lines of attack on tho maiu problem of the structure of the. atom were directed towards the one end. Sir Ernest also mentioned that Dr. E. Marsden (now Assistant Director of Education, New Zealand) had been engaged with the speaker in-the year 1912 at Manchester University on some of the. earliest experiments on the problem of the structure of the atom. Ou the motion of Mr. M'Wllliams, secretary of the Mathematical and Physical Society, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Sir Ernest, Rutherford for his instructive address..

PUBLIC ADDRESS

A public address on the structure of the atom will ba delivered at tho Town Hall this evening by our distinguished visitor, who has been described by Professor R. D. Watt, of Sydney University, as "one of the greatest living scientists, whose mime will be handed down to future generations linked with those of other great British physicists like Newton and Kelvin." .