2.In what subjects did Ernest distinguish himself (отличился)?

Little Ernest was the fourth child in the family. When the boy was five he was sent to primary school. After finishing primary school he went to the secondary school. He liked to read at school very much. His favourite writer was Charles Dickens. He also liked to make models of different machines. He was particularly interested in watches and cameras, he even constructed a camera himself.

At school he was good at physics, mathematics, English, French and Latin. He paid much attention to chemistry too. Ernest became the best pupil at school. At the age of 19 he finished school and entered the New Zealand University.

3.In what activities did Rutherford take part when he was a student?

At the University Ernest Rutherford was one of the most talented students. He worked hard and took an active part in the work of the Scientific Society of the University. But he was also fond of sports and took part in the students’ sport competitions.

At one of the meetings of the Scientific Society he made his scientific report “The Evolution of Element”. At the same time he began his research work. For his talented scientific research he got a prize. After graduation Rutherford went to Cambridge where he continued his investigations (исследования).

4.What did Rutherford do besides research work?

Some years later Rutherford moved to Canada to continue his research work at the University in Montreal. Besides his successful researches he also lectured a lot at the leading Universities of the United States and England.

Rutherford’s famous work “The Scattering (распространение) of Alpha and Beta Particles of Matter and the Structure of the Atom” proved that the atom could be bombarded so that the electrons could be thrown off, and the nucleus (ядро) itself could be broken. In the process of splitting the nucleus matter was converted into energy, which for the scientists of the 19^th century seemed unbelievable.

5.In what fields of economy can atomic energy find its peaceful application?

The splitting of the atom has opened to Man a new and enormous source of energy. The most important results have been obtained by splitting the atom of uranium.

At present we are only at the beginning of the application of atomic energy and all its possible uses for peaceful purposes in power engineering, medicine and agriculture.

Ernest Rutherford paid much attention to his young pupils. After 1920 he did not make great discoveries in science, but taught young scientists who worked in the field of atomic research work. Among his favourite pupils was Pyotr Kapitsa, a famous Soviet physicist.

Ernest Rutherford died in the autumn of 1937 at the age of 66, and was buried at Westminster Abbey not far from the graves of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Michael Faraday.

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