Radio-Activity

by Ernest Rutherford

d = distance between the plates,

T = time of a half alternation,

ρ = ratio of the excited radio-activity on the plate B to the

sum of the radio-activities on the plates A and B,

K = velocity of the positive carriers for a potential-gradient

of 1 volt per centimetre.

On the assumption that the electric field between the plates is uniform, and that the velocity of the carrier is proportional to the electric field, the velocity of the positive carrier towards B is

E₀ – E₁

-------- K

d