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The Spike or Victoria University College Review September 1925

Sir Ernest Rutherford, O.M., F.R.S., D.Sc., Ph.D., LL.D

Sir Ernest Rutherford, O.M., F.R.S., D.Sc., Ph.D., LL.D.

Rutherford, Sir Ernest, created Knight 1914; Fellow of the Royal Society, 1903; Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics and Director of Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, since 1919. Born at Nelson, New Zealand, August 30th, 1871; son of James and Martha Ruther-ford, Turanaki, New Zealand; married in 1900 to Mary G. Newton, only daughter of Arthur and Mary De Renzy Newton, Christchurch, New Zealand; one daughter. Educated at Nelson College, Canterbury College, Christchurch, New Zealand University, Cambridge University. M.A. degree with first class honours in Mathematics and Physics, 1893; B.Sc. degree and 1851. Exhibition Science Scholarship, 1894; proceeded to Cam-bridge and entered Trinity College, and prosecuted research at Cavendish Laboratory; B.A. research degree and Coutts-Trotter Studenship, 1897; B.Sc. New Zealand University, 1901; L.L.D., Universities of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, McGill Birmingham, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Yale; Ph.D., Giessen; D.Sc. Dublin, Durham; D. Phys., Clark; delivered Bakerian Lecture Royal Society, 1904; awarded Rumford Medal, Royal Society, 1905; Barnard Medal, 1910; Bressa Prize from Turin Academy of Science, 1908; awarded Nobel Prize for Chemistry, 1908; Macdonald Professor of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, 1898-1907; Langworthy Professor and Director Physical Laboratories, University of Manchester, 1907-1919; Fellow of Trinity College since 1919. Publications: Radio-activity, 1904; Radio-active Transformations, 1906; Radioactive Substances and Their Radiations, 1912; numerous papers in Transactions, Royal Society, Philosophical Magazine and other journals on various branches of Physical Science; much of the work has dealt with the conduction of electricity through gases and radio-activity.

Recreations: Golf, motoring.

Address: Newham Cottage, Queen Road, Cambridge.

Clubs: Athenaeum, Savile.

The above is a brief summary (taken from "Who's Who ") of the outstanding events in the life of Sir Ernest Rutherford, the most distinguished New Zealander, and recognised as the page 39 most illustrious physicist of his generation. He has been honoured by all the learned societies of the world, and His Majesty the King' has selected him for the highest honour in the British Empire—the Order of Merit.

As an experimental investigator he stands unsurpassed in the history of physical science. Young physicists from all parts of the world flock to his laboratory for inspiration and knowledge.

Sir Ernest Rutherford, with remarkable intuition and experimental skill, showed how the phenomenon of radio-activity could only be ascribed to the spontaneous disintegration of certain elements. As the result of atomic explosions, positively charged projectiles called alpha particles equal to four times the mass of the hydrogen atom are ejected with a speed of 20,000 miles a second. Mass for mass the energy of one of these particles is four hundred million times greater than that possessed by a rifle bullet. Since alpha particles are the most energetic of all projectiles, he conceived the idea of using them to bombard and to demolish the atoms of the lighter elements. In this he was eminently successful. He was able to unravel the mystery of the structure of the atom, and was the first one to demonstrate that the material of the universe is probably built up of protons and electrons . The proton is the positive nucleus of the hydro-gen atom, and the electron is the corresponding negative charge.

Those who have had the honour of working in his laboratory will never forget his striking personality, his tremendous energy, his capacity for hard work, and his Napoleonic spirit—" There shall be no Alps."

It has been truly said that he has never entered a blind trail; with clear vision he sees where the line of advance is possible, and then with characteristic determination he pushes ahead into the unknown.

In his Presidential Address, which he delivered in 1923 at the meeting at Liverpool of the British Association for the advancement of Science, he said:—

"In watching the rapidity of the tide of advance in Physics I have become more and more impressed by the power of the scientific method of extending our knowledge of nature. Experiment directed by the disciplined imagination either of an individual, or, still better, of a group of individuals of varied mental outlook, is able to achieve results which far transcend the imagination alone of the greatest natural philosopher. Experiment without imagination, or imagination without recourse to experiment, can accomplish little, but for effective progress, a happy blend of these two powers is necessary. The unknown appears as a dense mist before the eyes of men. In penetrating this obscurity we cannot invoke the aid of supermen, but must depend on the combined efforts of a number of adequately trained ordinary men of scientific imagination. Each in his own special field of enquiry is enabled by the scientific method to penetrate a short distance, and his work reacts upon and influences the whole body of other workers. From time to time there arises an illuminating conception, based on accumulated knowledge, which lights up a large region, and shows the connection between these individual efforts, so that a general advance follows. The attack begins anew on a wider front, and often with improved page 40 technical weapons. The conception which led to this advance often appears simple and obvious when once it has been put forward. This is a common experience, and the scientific man often feels a sense of disappointment that he himself had not foreseen a development which ultimately seems so clear and in-evitable.

Sir Ernest Rutherford is interested in many other things besides the structure of the atom. Afternoon tea is considered an important institution in his laboratory, when the research students all meet together and discuss not only their difficulties, but many other matters which naturally arise when so many men from different universities of the world meet together. As a lecturer he is always forceful, animated and inspiring. A contemporary has written of him:—

"His work is his play. He is an enthusiast. When he lectures his glasses are gone, his watch-chain gets little rest, and with his hands—big hands—he clears up the most abstruse questions. Electrons never dare to disobey his orders, and his hearers watch him with bated breath."