Open AccessA preliminary note on branched α-ray tracks
Publication year - 1921
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series a, containing papers of a mathematical and physical character
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2053-9150
pISSN - 0950-1207
DOI - 10.1098/rspa.1921.0056
Subject(s) - reciprocating motion , orientation (vector space) , physics , collision , computer science , geometry , artificial intelligence , mathematics , computer security , bearing (navigation)
According to Prof. Sir E. Rutherford, if about one hundred thousand α-rays from radium C pass through the air, on the average there will be one close nuclear collision, which produces a swiftly moving atom. Thus, if we take a great number of photographs of α-ray tracks compatible with the above order of magnitude, we might expect to find some evidence to indicate the disruption of atoms by the α-particles. The present note is to describe some preliminary trials in this direction. The reciprocating expansion apparatus of the preceding article is very convenient for taking a large number of photographs within a reasonable time. Direct eye-observation confirmed the existence of some branched tracks which differed greatly in configuration from spurred tracks like the one photographed by Mr. C. T. R. Wilson. Arrangements were then made to devise a suitable method of photographing such tracks and to show their orientation in space.