Page:On Electric Touch and the Molecular Changes produced in Matter by Electric Waves.djvu/14

Rh should be no jarring motion, as mechanical disturbance was found to break up the complex atomic aggregation in the radiation product. During eight minutes of exposure the receiver continued to exhibit an increase of resistance, after which the substance became positive, being converted to the B state; this positive state lasted for a minute under exposure to radiation, then there was a reversal to the original negative state—as if the structure so laboriously built up suddenly gave way. Subsequently there were series of reversals, the specimen becoming more and more inert, and, after an exposure of about thirty minutes, the sensitiveness was practically lost.

The curve given below represents approximately the results of the experiment. During certain periods the substance became so nearly neutral that it was difficult to interpret whether the substance was positive or negative. The lower halves of the curve represent the negative and the upper halves the positive states, and the corresponding numbers represent, in minutes, the duration of these states.

It was said that, owing to molecular reversals due to radiation, there should be a corresponding series of electric reversals. In this investigation it is essential that the substance examined should be completely protected from all disturbances, such as mechanical vibration, &c., and only subjected to the action of radiation. The experimental difficulties are very great. If we take a strongly sensitive positive substance—say iron, the effect of the first flash of radiation (a diminution of resistance) is very great, and the subsequent relatively feeble reversal effects, unless carefully looked for, are liable to pass unnoticed. After the first adjustment, the receiver should on no account be touched, as mechanical jars are found to undo the effect of radiation. Though by special care the mechanical jars could be reduced to a minimum, yet it appeared advisable to devise appropriate means by which the necessity of touching the receiver for subsequent adjustments is altogether avoided. The method adopted to this end varies with individual cases. In the case of arsenic, for example, the action of radiation is often to produce a very great increase of resistance, and thus convert the substance into a non-conductor. The pressure has therefore to be so adjusted at the beginning, that the substance can never become altogether non-conducting; the