Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-29
NATTER IN MODERN ASPECT
Its Nature and Known Properties as
Developed by Research.
SOME SECRETS NOT YET DISCLOSED
Prof. Bernstein of the High
school Lectures on the Topic
to the Philosophical
society.


The Theory of Matter" Prof. Bernstein
said:
Matter as we know it today is something
perceptible by our senses, something we
can feel, see, taste, hear: something which
is matter of concern for one or all of
the senses. Something which fills space or
is occupied by space: which exists every
where in the universe. even unto the
farthest space surrounding stars whose
distance is almost incalculable by us.
For the sake of convenience we speak Of
matter as existing in three states. Some
times the line of dcmarcation becomes so
feeble as to be almost altogether extin-
guished.
definiteness OF size and Shape. IL resists
efforts to change this size shape. 1t
appeals most strongly to the senses be-
cause most of the solids which we know
seem more tangible than other states of
matter.
the size and shape of the containing vessel.
though ii always has definite volume or
its own. For instance, water In Kettle
eral form is that of the kettle.
In the third or gaseous state matter is.
wholly dependable on the containing YES
sell 1t fills whatever 1t occupies II we
have quart of gas and remove one-haH
Of t. the remainder Immediately dinuses
the weight has been diminished by one
half
There is still another state, but the limits
OF our discussion forbids any mention of
this so-called radiant natter except as
incidental to other things.
status of the MoIecuIe.
In order to understand the reason for
these states of matter it becomes neces-
sary to say something of the molecule,
which until recently was the ultimate d.
vision of matter, considered as an indie
pendent entity. For example the smallest
piece OF wood that could exist and still
be wood is q molecule of wood. It's size
and shape are still subjects OF muc9 ar dI,r
on the surface of a soap bubble Dolbear
has made certain deductions as to the size
of molecule. From sucn a bubble are
reflected all the coors of the rainbow.
Beyond the purple comes white band and
beyond this gray patch which reflects
thickness which is LEO of that of purple
| light whose wave length is about 1-60,00
of an inch. This will give us for the the
| or in round numbers, ITO 900, 900 of an inch.
| When we consider that this film bears the
| weight of the bubble. it will occur to US
ness. From this and other phenomena we
| conclude that molecule has diameter
| of about 1-60, 000,OO0 of an inch; that is to
| say. 5O.OO0OO0 molecules arranged in row
| would measure one inch. When we try to
! estimate the number of molecules in drop
| OF water ordinary calculations are not
! sufficient and we resort to other devices
1 to express the result.
Referring again to piece of wood we hnd
| hat its molocule can be further subdivided.
| That is to say, we change the nature of the
wood by burning. for instance, and SO bring
4
| transition state; that is, while travelling
! from one compound or element to another
others and are consequently larger. but the
! largest is almost beyond the imagination of
/ most of us in smallness.
Vortex Theory of Matter.
| AS to the shape of the minute divisions
| there has been much speculation. Perhaps
| the most interesting as well as most easily
| understood is the vortex theory of matter
This assumes that minute portions OF
lNa urnn n
of such tcnuos state that IT has none OF the
common properties of matter, but exist IN a
| class BY itself, travel through space, shaped
like vortex rings. on any. still day such
rings may be seen issuing from the smoke
stack of a locomotive. There is one central
ring about whose circumference splrally
curl lesser rings. These rings or atoms are
indestructible and can neither intersect each
other nor Themselves On the motion of
the kinds OF matter In other words, they
are phenomena in the original matter of the
primal stun. on the way they com pine or
twist through each other probably depends
the formation OF differing kinds OF matter.
This theory seems TO assume tnat t mere , -
but one kind of matter. OF which the ele-
ments are but differing forms depending on
the motion of these atoms.
Motion as a Factor.
We have already spoken OF the states OF
matter. but have said nothing OF the rea,
son for this 1t is now generally accepted
| that what we term heat is but another
name for molecular motion. That is 10 say,
n
,ceaselessly moving. 1t moves in an'environ-
. mcnt of ether and on the distance II moves
depends the state of matter. we cannot say
/ much of this motion in the solid state be-
cause 1t Is of such complex nature Bul
in the gas there seems to be nothing but
! the sides of the retaining vessel TO restrain
This motion and the molecule moves in
straight lines until It strikes other mole
| cules or the sides of the vessel Risteen has
: | calculated the velocities OF several gases
under the same pressure and at tempeTa-
ture OF zero centigrade: lie gives these az
; follows: Hydrogen, ssh feet per second
Oxygen, / 1874 feet per second; carbonic acid
, gas llS9 feet per second. From this II
. / seems that the lighter the gas the faster
, moves its molecules. The law Is that tht
> velocity of the molecule varies inversely al
the square root of the density of the gas.
} This molecular motion in gases Is also
, matter of Importance, because on II 1:
based our method of calculating absolute
temperature. Let us take quart OF gas
under a certain definite pressure, and cooled
to o degree centigrade. Now heat IL de
gree and we have l-g73 quarts, due to tbs
Increased motion of the molecule. Heat II
, 27S degrees and we have two quarts Of
exactly twice the volume with which We
started. Extending this kind OF reasoning
AZ we cool the gas / degree below degree
: centigrade we have 212-H3 quarts, or 4
we cool Il under proper conditions to 70
; grade its volume has entirely disappeared
, IL the gas exists as matter now its mole
, cules are absolutely motionless, and prob
! ably rest on each other, Its properties are
entirely unknown to us except by specula
ton. Matter in this condition has never
that Il Is the motion of the molecule
rather than the molecule itself, which oc
cupies space that at the absolute zero mat
. ter no longer takes up room.
Another Test for Matter.
The three states of matter may be furthe
differentiated as follows: In the solid stat
| the motion of the molecule is restricted
The molecules have strong attraction To-
| each other. which prevents their movinI
further than sensible distances from eacl
. | other. Cohesion, or the attraction OF on
y | particle for another. is stronger than hea
!. | or the molecular motion, In the liquit
y while cohesion stll exists II is not nearl.
Q so strong as in the solid. In the gas co
A hesion no longer exists In fact, the mole
cules seem TO have a positive repulsion 70
e each other. From this we can readily Sc
n that the states of matter are for the mos
| part dependent on heat, or the amount o
| molecular motion In matter. OF cours
there are exceptions to the above state
!. ments, but they are rather due 10 condi
. tions not yet understood than deviation
from the theory.
Recent Progress I'm science.
During the last decade there has beei
y much progress made toward discerning tn
| ultimate nature of matter. Electrolys
lhe <-rays, the wireless telegraphy ant
n radium, each has contributed something 4
: | our present undeveloped theory. IL is nov
n ! held that there Is something infnitel!
10 smaller and Infinitely nearer TO the origina
4 q II IL