ATOMIC ENERGY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23280, 16 August 1945, Page 7

ATOMIC ENERGY

Release Of Force Explained Address By Mr P. Ruston An attempt to give a broad outline of the mechanics underlying the release of atomic energy with as few scientific terms as possible was given by Mr P. Ruston, science master at the Timaru Technical College, at a meeting of Toe H. “Without knowing precisely what it is, man has given names to various forms of energy such as magnetic and chemical energy,” said Mr Ruston. “Heat, light and sound are others. Gravitational energy is responsible for keeping all matter- earthbound and the moon on its orbit. Similar energy keeps the planets of our sun and those of other stars on their alloted course. “There is one common result of energy,” continued the speaker, “Forces are set up. Energy and force are. cause and effect. Any alteration that requires increased forces needs increased energy. If we add more water to a partly filled bucket more force will be required to lift the bucket. Increased energy, muscular energy this time, will be needed to lift it.

“The clue to the understanding of the atomic bomb and the generation of atomic energy for the world’s work is just the converse. If any alteration reduces the forces necessary to build the parts of atoms into a new structure less energy will be required. This spare energy is released and is available for the setting up of forces producing other changes in materials. If man learns the laws governing this energy he can determine, within the limits of his knowledge of this particular form of energy, what changes will be made. He could harness it to do the physical and mechanical work he desires as he has done in the case of steam and electricity. Structure of Atoms “Without knowing tile mechanics of the changes man has used the energy released from the ' burning of fuels,” continued Mr Ruston. “There is a marked similarity in the release. of atomic energy. All material of which we are aware is built up of atoms. There are some 92 different atoms Or elements known to man. When these elements combine to make a particular substance the atoms are built up In a. structure called a molecule. Tn elementary substances there may be two atoims in a molecule. Some complex molecules consist of hundreds of atoms in a definite structure held together by forces. In burning a fuel the atoms in the molecule are rearranged to form other- simpler substances. The structure of these new molecules would require smaller forces and thus less energy. The energy released in this case is in the forms that we call heat and light. “Each atom is built up of ultra minute specks or particles, so small that they baffle the imagination. The structure of the hydrogen atom is similar to the earth-moon system. The earth representing the heaviest part, the nucleus, with its positive charge and the moon- representing the electron with its equal but opposite negative charge. Hydrogen is the lightest element and its atom has the Simplest structure. The atomic structure of other elements becomes increasingly complex as their weight increases. The planetary structure is believed to be found in all. The heavier elements have a structure of orbits far more complicated than that of our solar system with the sun representing the nucleus and the planets the moving electrons. The whole structure of each is held together by forces which are the result of energy absorbed in their building. “As with the alteration of the molecular structure of fuel in burning, so it is with the alteration of atoms,” said Mr Ruston. “Simplification in structure in atoms means that smaller forces are required. The unnecessary energy is thus released. With the release of energy from say element A, the structure of element B can be altered. More energy is released from B and in turn alters the structure of element C and so on. The'use of the atomic bomb means that an order of elements has been found to produce such a result and that a compact means of breaking up or altering the structure of the first or A in the scries has been found.

Releasing Energy “We can picture ' the process thus: In a fireplace arrange a layer of tissue paper, then a layer of thicker paper followed by one of brown paper Continue building layers of thisi shavings, small kindling wood, thick sticks of wood, coal and coke in this order. If the quantities are selected correctly the sun’s rays converged through a lens can be made to set the tissue paper alight. Energy released by the breaking up of the tissue molecules into simpler materials sets the thicker paper alight and so on until the coke burns. The various layers of these combustibles represent the elements, I have named A, B, C, etc. Use the wrong sequence of layers and the sun’s rays cannot be used to release heat and light energy from the coke. At least not at a measurable rate. The recent discoveries have found a usable sequence of elements as well as a compact means of breaking atoms of the first one of the series.

“The danger in the present use of atomic energy is that, we cannot be sure of limiting the process to a few elements. With each additional element that breaks down more energy is released. As in the case of steam and electricity the dangers will be reduced as man learns the laws controlling this immense powerhouse of energy. This can only be accomplished by long, honest and patient work requiring courage and sustained determination,” the speaker concluded.