NEW BOOKS Electricity, Sound, and Light. By Robert -4ndrews .Vlillikan aizd J o h n .Uills. 21 c m ; p p . iz. 389. Boston: Ginn & Co. Price: $2.00; m a i l i n g price, $ z . z ~ . - ‘ ‘ This book represents primarily a n attempt to secure a satisfactory articulation of the laboratory and class-room phases of instruction in physics. I t is a n outgrowth of the conviction t h a t in courses of intermediate grade in colleges, universities, and engineering schools a real insight into the methods of physics, and a thorough grasp of its foundation principles are not readily gained unless theory is presented in immediate connection with such concrete laboratory problems as are calculated to give the student a sound basis for intelligent theoretical work. “Severtheless the book is intended to be much more than a laboratory manual. I t represents an attempt to present a complete logical development, from the standpoint of theory as well as experinlent, of the subjects indicated in the title.” The headings of the chapters are: magnetic and electric fields of force; determination of the strengths of magnetic fields and magnetic poles; measurements of electric currents ; measurement of potential differences ; measurement of resistance; temperature coefficient of resistance; galvanometer constant of a moving-coil galvanometer; absolute measurement of capacity; comparison of capacities, determination of dielectric constants, and the ratio of the electrostatic and electro-magnetic units; electromotive force atid internal resistance ; comparison of electromotive forces; electro-magnetic induction ; constants of the earth’s magnetic field; self-induction; magnetic induction in iron; electrolytic conduction; velocity of sound in air; musical properties of air chambers; longitudinal vibration of rods; waves in strings; diffraction of sound and light ii-aves; diffraction grating; refraction of light; total reflection; photometry; dispersion and spectra; polarized light; radioactivity. This seems to be a very useful book and one to be recommended to the chemist. T h e chapter on radioactivity is unusually clear. On p. 181,however, the authors credit to Clausius a good deal larger share of the electrolytic dissociation theory than really belongs to him. Clausius never postulated any quantitative relation betxeen molecular conductivity and dissociation. I n fact, Clausius never assumed anything more than a n infinitesimal dissociation II-ilder D . Buncrojt under a n y circumstances.
14
x
+
Physikalische Chemie der Metalle. Sechs Vor.’riige iiber die ~issenscizajtliciieiz Grundlageit der .Iletallurgie. B y Rudolj Schenck. 18 X 26 cm; p p . k 193, Hallc: TVilhelm K n a p p , 1909. Price: p a p e r , 7.00 marks; b o u n d , 7.50 marks.The volume is the outgrowth of a course of lectures delivered in 1907 before the engineers of the Rhine provinces. The subject was treated under six heads: general properties of the metals; metallic solutions and alloys; alloys of the metals with carbides ; oxygen and sulphides ; metallurgical reactions ; decomposition of carbon monoxide; blast furnace reactions; the reactions of the sulphides.
+
