Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-30
SCIENCE NOTES.


The Physical Review contains an &C
count of series Of experiments on
the period of a rod vibrating in a
liquid, by Mary I. Northway and A.
Stanley Mackenzie. 1t has been known |
since 1876 that the period of a pen |
dulum is greater when vibrating in a |
fluid than when vibrating in a vacuum. |
This is due to loss in weight through !
buoyancy and also to the pendulum be-
ing loaded by or dragging with it a GER
tain amount of the fluid. In 1914
Stokes treated the problem of body
oscillating in an infinite liquid medium
and considered mathematically the eff
feet of the viscosity as we'll as of the
density of the fluid. The experiments
approximate very closely in their
main results to this important piece Of
| work. The relation between the pitch
| of bells and tuning forks in air and
that in various liquids has received the
attention of several eXperlmenters,
and various suggestions have been
made to explain the lowering pitch
| from simple mechanical principles.
| The rod experimental on was held in
clamp screwed to the inside of
wooden box, which held when required
| the liquid under consideration. An
| electromagnetic was used to maintain
! the rod in vibration. The experiments
| were made in water, cOttOnseed oil
and a saturated solution Of sodium
nitrate with brass and steel rods. The
results show that the interval of low
ering for rod Of given cross section
is independent of the length and is ap-
proximately the same for brass and
steel. Density of medium is the main
factor in lowering pitch.
Advantages of Turbines.
These are: The absolutely steady
nature of turning movement; entire
absence Of cylinder fabrication, allow
ing all the condensed steam to be re-
turned to the boilers, and cheap
foundation for plant. The time oc-
cupied in cleaning down is brought to
minimum, and is about one-siXth of
that required in the reciprocating en-
CINE Of a similar capacity. Super
heated steam can be used to greatest
advantage, and the cost for attention
and repairs is small. In laying down
a steam-turbine plant the main factors
to be considered are good vacuum in
the condenser and arrangements for
high superheat. From tests taken on
the 1,250-kilowatt steam-turbine sets
now working at Elberfeld, it was
shown that there was a gain of II per
cent. with SIS degrees centigrade super
heat, and that every inch of vacuum
improves the steam consumption by
per cent. 1t is also shown that the
steam consumption per horsepower
in the turbines, other things being
equal, decreases constantly with the
increase of loads.-Electrician Lon-
| dom.
Engine of the Future.
| The modern steam turbine is a won
derfully simple machine. It's efficiency
is equal to that of the best compound
condensing engine. 1t occupies lit
| tie space, needs little or no foundation
and runs with {. minimum of attention
| If these points be admitted we may ex-
/ pect to see the use of the turbine in
our large power stations and isolated
plants grow rapidly within the next
few years.
Science and Social Recognition.
The extent to which scientific work
has been discouraged in America by
| lack of social recognition is difficult to
| determine. Greater honor for intel
| lectual distinction might attract young
men to a scientific career, whereas
worship of wealth may direct too much
of the activity Of the country to COM
merce. But the routine of social
| functions in foreign capitals can
scarcely be regarded as favorable to
scientific research. Darwin's i'll
health and enforced isolation in the
Country enabled him to do the work
| he did, whereas social engagements
| did not improve HuXley's purely
| scientific work. The lack of a heredi-
| tary aristocracy and Of a single nation
al social center may not in the end be
hurtful to science. Ii the scientific
man is consulted as an expert and his
advice is followed, he may be willing
to forego invitations to dinner and the
patronage of society.