Transcriber’s notes:
In this plain-text e-book, italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
Superscripted text is indicated by a preceding caret mark, e.g. 2^{n-1}
ATOMS AND ELECTRONS
_J. W. N. Sullivan_
_DORAN’S MODERN READERS’ BOOKSHELF_
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
_Gilbert K. Chesterton_
THE STORY OF THE RENAISSANCE
_Sidney Dark_
VICTORIAN POETRY
_John Drinkwater_
THE POETRY OF ARCHITECTURE
_Frank Rutter_
ATOMS AND ELECTRONS
_J. W. N. Sullivan_
EVERYDAY BIOLOGY
_J. Arthur Thomson_
_Other Volumes in Preparation_
ATOMS
AND ELECTRONS
BY
J. W. N. SULLIVAN
[Illustration]
NEW YORK
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1924,
BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
ATOMS AND ELECTRONS
—B—
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
_Of all human ambitions an open mind eagerly expectant of new
discoveries and ready to remold convictions in the light of added
knowledge and dispelled ignorances and misapprehensions, is the
noblest, the rarest and the most difficult to achieve._
JAMES HARVEY ROBINSON, in “_The Humanizing of Knowledge_.”
It is the purpose of Doran’s Modern Readers’ Bookshelf to bring
together in brief, stimulating form a group of books that will be fresh
appraisals of many things that interest modern men and women. Much of
History, Literature, Biography and Science is of intense fascination
for readers today and is lost to them by reason of being surrounded by
a forbidding and meticulous scholarship.
These books are designed to be simple, short, authoritative, and such
as would arouse the interest of intelligent readers. As nearly as
possible they will be intended, in Professor Robinson’s words quoted
above, “to remold convictions in the light of added knowledge.”
This “adding of knowledge” and a widespread eagerness for it are two
of the chief characteristics of our time. Never before, probably, has
there been so great a desire to know, or so many exciting discoveries
of truth of one sort or another. Knowledge and the quest for it has now
about it the glamour of an adventure. To the quickening of this spirit
in our day Doran’s Modern Readers’ Bookshelf hopes to contribute.
In addition to the volumes announced here others are in preparation
for early publication. The Editors will welcome suggestions for the
Bookshelf and will be glad to consider any manuscripts suitable for
inclusion.
The Editors.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Chapter I
UNITS AND NOTATION 11