'LORD RUTHERFORD OF NELSON'

Evening Star, Issue 20853, 24 July 1931, Page 5

'LORD RUTHERFORD OF NELSON'

ADDRESS BY DR JACK GREAT SCIENTIST’S LIFE WORK A lecture on the life and work of Lord Rutherford was delivered in the University last night before tho members of tho Otago institute and the Otago Historical Association by Dr R. Jack. Dr Elder presided and introduced the speaker, saying that it was fitting that tho lecture should bo given in the University, as it gave emphasis to tho fact that the University was performing work which the public was very apt to forget. Lord Rutherford had n strong influence in tho scientific world, and it was a source of satisfaction to know that in tho University there was a man who could give the layman the benefit of tho work of the great scientist. In physics tho ground seemed to change overnight, and it said a great deal for Dr Jack that ho was able to keep abreast of the most recent developments. Dr Jack said that his pleasure in giving tho address was increased by his having had, at the beginning of tho year, ;the pleasure of spending an evening with Lord Rutherford’s mother at Now Plymouth. Though she was now 88 years of age, her interest in her celebrated son’s work was still strong. Ho was pleased to Speak in that room also, because when Lord Rutherford was hero a short time ago ho had addressed a meeting in it. Speaking of his work gave tho lecturer an opportunity of emphasising what a great man Now Zealand had produced; he stood on tho top of tho scientific tree, and it was a pleasure to think to what heights ho had risen. Dr Jack read an extract from a letter received by him from Lord Rutherford’s mother, which stated that her son was born at Nelson on August 30, 1871 ; and was the fourth child of tho family. Ho had passed tho First Standard at tho ago of six, and the Sixth at tho ago of ten. He had attended Nelson College from 1887 to 1839. Professor Jack added that Lord Rutherford had gone to Canterbury College' in 1890, and in 1894 had secured first-class honours in mathematics and physics. In 1895 ho had secured his 13. Sc. degree. Tho Exhibition scholarship that year had been won by a student named M'Laurin, who had been unable to accept it. It had been given to Rutherford, and bad started him on his career in England. Ho had interested himself in tho effect of electric oscillation on iron, which had led to his invention of tho magnetic detector. .After spending three .years at Cambridge ho was appointed to a professorship at M'Gill University (Montreal), but in 1907 ho returned to England as a professor at Manchester. Italy had recognised him by awarding him tho Dressa prize in 1908, in which year he also won the Nobel prize. Ho returned to Cambridge, and was appointed director of tho Cavendish Laboratories. Since then he had been made president of tho Royal Society, and had been created a peer, while several foreign countries had conferred degrees upon him. Lord Rutherford commenced his work at a very critical time for physics, X-rays having just been discovered, and thought was proceeding along now linos. There had been a number of great men in tho, University at the time, but Rutherford had proved himself the greatest of them all. They had discovered that when X-rays struck against'a phosphorescent screen they had commenced to give out light, so that it was thought that any phosphorescent substance would givo off light. This thought lead a French scientist to conduct, tho first research into radio activity. Later Monsieur and Madame Curio had succeeded in isolating radium, which was tho most active substance of all. Other radio-active substances were uranium and thorium. ■ Lord Rutherford had recently stated that there were only 6oz of radium in the world, valued at between £3,000,000 and £4,000,000. About four ounces of this were in tho United States. Tho high price was caused by tho fact that from about 500 tons of rock only ono gramme of radium was obtained; this was about equal in weight to an ordinary glove button. In 1900 Lord Rutherford had discovered that radium gave off a gas, which ho called radium emanation, which had radio-active parts, and this had lead to his first great discovery, known as tho Disintegration Theory. This was based on tho fact that the three elements—radium, uraniuni, and thorium—were continually throwing off parts of themselves and becoming lighter. Regarding tho structure of water. Dr Jack said that if a drop of water were magnified to the size of tho earth the molecules would bo tho size of a football. All substances on tho earth were really composed of ninety other different substances, all of which were different. An atom had been thought of as being indivisible. Lord llutherford had illustrated the size of an atom by saying that if the world’s population were estimated at 1,000,000,000, and all were set the task of counting the atoms in an area represented by the size of the end of tho thumb, it would take them 1,000 years, working twenty-four hours a day, to complete itt Lord Rutherford had discovered that radium gave off alpha, beta, and gamma rays, and that it eventually changed into loud. There was no need to worry on that point, however, as its weight was reduced by half in 2,000 years, the remainder being reduced by half in tho next 2,000 years, so that it would bo a long time before radium was completely changed into load.

Tho second great discovery made by Lord Rutherford bad dealt with tho Nuclear Theory, which showed that an atom resembled a solar system, tho electrons revolving about tho nucleus as planets revolved about the sun. This bad been a. daring departure from preconceived notions, as before 1011 no such idea had been expounded. The third, discovery, that of arti- ’’ “i" I disintegration, dealt with the changing of one substance into aui,.ally into gold. Lord Ruthorrd '.as tiio first man to make such a transformation. He had shot alpha ,) males against aluminium and had driven off hydrogen. In this he had discovered that there was an enormous amount of energy concentrated in an atom. If tho energy contained in a piece of iron could ho utilised it would be sufficient to blow all tbo navies of the world into the air. If tho key were found it would not bo necessary for anyone to do any more work, and Lord Rutherford was showing tho way to harness tho atom.

The great scientist’s fourth and greatest discovery was tho structure of the nucleus of tiio atom, but this was still iu progress of being solved and was helping to show how the energy of the atom might bo used. Mcssiges were being sent out from the nucleus, and to the man who could read them would go the honour of harnessing tho atom.

In conclusion Dr Jack dealt with Lord Rutherford’s personal attributes.

Ho was full of fun, ho said, hut no man was more enthusiastic about his business. The telegram which he had scut to his mother when he had been made a peer gave an insight into Ins character. It had stated: "Now Lm-d Rutherford. Honour more yours than mine. Lovo. Ernest. ’’ He "as a groat experimenter and seized every opportunity that came Ins way. He '"as modest, yet had a firm belief in himself. Though a, hard worker ho was iond of a game of golf and motoring. He was kindly by nature, and at no lime a slacker. Indeed, he was a very human being. Ho could almost bo compared with a big schoolboy. Around him in the laboratory he had men of all nations, and all wanted to do their best for him. The lecturer concluded by expressing the hope that ho had helped his audience Ir realise some of the greatness of this man whom lie thought tho foremost Now Zealander.

Till! address was illustrated liy lantern slides <1 ml experiments with various pieces of apparatus. On the motion of Mr 0, fiimpson Dr Jack was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.