"SCIENCE IN THE HOME."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17263, 12 September 1919, Page 3

"SCIENCE IN THE HOME."

PROFESSOR OWEN'S LECTURE.

EVERYDAY APPLIANCE*.

A popular lecture, p;. ; ti./uiarly appreciated by the ladies prcs-nt. v. is given by Professor (i. Often, oi the Auckland University, m the Leys Institute lat t evening 'on the subject of '•Science m the Home." .Mr. T. W. Leva Resided, and in spite of the very wet ' weather ere was a, large attend Professor Ovren. said that science filtered far more into homo life than »j----generally imagined. Innumerable household appliances and methods were bused on important scientific principles. One simple illustration was that of soda ; which was generally placed in water whet boiling green vegetables in order to pre serve the colour. There was a peii'ectly sound scientific reason for that. On the other hand, there were several methods adopted in households which were based on pure illusion. For example, the sun was alleged to put tl>a die out, and the blind B were lowered; or again, a poker was placed to lean against the grate to make the fire draw bettei. Professor Owen said he intended to explain the scientific principles underlying some of the familiar methods and appliances in the home.

• An experiment was carried out to illustrate the principle that a liquid finds its own level, arid based on this, an explain tion was given of springs and well.*, including artesian well*-. By means of i i.. tern slides the lecturer " explained the .modern methods of supplying towns and cities with water. .Numerous experiments were made to illustrate the principle of atmospheric pressure. A barometer* was made, and the vacuum cleaner explained The construction of a simple fire-eslin guisher was described, and the properties of carbonic acid gas were discussed The power of carbonic acid gas to extinguish fire was demonstrated. The expansion produced by heat in solids, liquid?, and gases was profusely illustrated by the aid of experiments. A:. explanation was given of the cracking of a glass when hot water is poured into it, and also cf the arrangements used for heating buildings by hot-water pines. The principle of proper vontilatioi. was discussed, and experiment* were carried out showing the different poweis if different substances for the conduction of heat. The ptimiple of the thermos flask was explained. Experiments with -airied out proving that a brightly-p-.ilisb.ou vessel will retain heat longer than a black vessel. It was also shown that a black surface absorbs radiant heat better than a bright surface. Hence, biack clothes were hotter than white clothes in summer sunshine. An experiment was carried out demon strating the cold produced by rapid evaporation. The lecturer said this explained the dancer of catching cold when sitting in a draught after perspiring. Another experiment was made for the purpose of demonstrating that blue and ye'low when mixed produced white. This was the principle of putting blue in water v. hen washing linen to counteract the yeilow of the linen.

Professor Owen, who v.as assisted ui the numerous experiments by Mr. W. S. Vernon, lecturer in physic*. "as accorded a hearty vote of thanks, en th? motion of the chairman.