All conclusions
drawn from kinetic theory lead us to think that in the same space
there must exist, by the side of a molecule divided into two ions, a
thousand millions remaining in a neutral state and intact.
Mr C.T.R. Wilson has remarked that the positive and negative ions do
not produce condensation with the same facility. The ions of a
contrary sign may be almost completely separated by placing the
ionised gas in a suitably disposed field. In the neighbourhood of a
negative disk there remain hardly any but positive ions, and against a
positive disk none but negative; and in effecting a separation of this
kind, it will be noticed that condensation by negative ions is easier
than by the positive.
It is, consequently, possible to cause condensation on negative
centres only, and to study separately the phenomena produced by the
two kinds of ions. It can thus be verified that they really bear
charges equal in absolute value, and these charges can even be
estimated, since we already know the number of drops. This estimate
can be made, for example, by comparing the speed of the fall of a mist
in fields of different values, or, as did J.
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