Shadow of great britain

Two years may be a short time in a person's life. But two years is enough to make a qualitative change in a person's life. What kind of contribution did Arthur Hastings make to the progress of human civilization during his tenure as the academic supervisor and special representative of the state at the University of Göttingen from 1833 to 1834?

George Ohm, who was buried by the academic community, was rediscovered by him. This future Copley Medal winner and famous scientist in Europe shone brightly at the University of Göttingen. With the help of Arthur Hastings, Gauss and Weber built the world's first geomagnetic monitoring station, and founded the Göttingen Electromagnetic Association with Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Wheatstone.

Bismarck, the future iron-blooded prime minister who would rule the German Empire, showed his edge for the first time in Göttingen. Although he was just an irritable young man at that time, Arthur soon taught him the skills to deal with "reptiles". While Bismarck was showing off his power in the Gestapo, a child from an ordinary farmer's family traveled over a hundred miles across mountains and rivers to the small city of Gottingen in Hanover.

Although this child will become a major figure in the German industrial world many years later, with wealth that people all over the world envy. But at that time, he was still worried about the tuition fees for college. He wanted to continue to engage in the noble profession of practical science, but if he could not solve the economic problems, he would have to face the cruel reality of giving up his dream and dropping out of school.

——Elder Carter, "Arthur Hastings and the Liberal Constitutional Reform of the Kingdom of Hanover"

In the laboratory of the University of Gottingen, the air is filled with a slight metallic smell.

The newly renovated laboratory is very spacious and bright, but because the latest purchased instruments have not yet arrived, there are only a few simple wooden tables here, which are piled with books, manuscripts and instruments, and various circuit diagrams and hand-drawn sketches by scientists are hung on the walls.

Gauss, Weber, Ohm and Arthur were tightly surrounding the experimental table filled with various copper coils, batteries and magnets.

However, although there were four people standing here, only Ohm was actually working.

It was not that Gauss, Weber and Arthur were unwilling to help, but they wanted to see with their own eyes how Ohm would reproduce the experiment.

Ohm did not use many experimental equipment, only a few temperature difference batteries, a long copper wire, a sliding resistor and two crude ammeters he made.

Under the gaze of everyone, Ohm's forehead was covered with sweat. He carefully connected the circuit, taking every step carefully to ensure good contact.

He knew that these experiments were not only to verify his ideas, but also to prove to the academic community that the linear relationship between current and voltage is universal and is not affected by materials or current direction. Moreover, this may be his last chance in this life.

Mathematical giant John Carl Gauss, electromagnetic genius William Weber, and Arthur Hastings, the second British electromagnetics expert after Faraday, were all watching!

Then he connected the ammeter to the copper wire, and as the current was turned on, the ammeter's pointer gently jumped, indicating the current passing through the wire. Ohm knew that every data he was about to measure was crucial.

He adjusted the voltage of the battery, and after each change, he carefully recorded the values ​​of voltage and current. He held the voltmeter steadily in his hand, observing and thinking. After each record, Ohm would pause for a moment and carefully check the data to ensure that there were no mistakes.

As the data was recorded on paper line by line, Gauss, who was extremely sensitive to numbers, had already seen the subtleties.

However, the cautious Gauss did not immediately express his opinion, but politely asked Ohm: "Excuse me, Mr. Ohm, can you lend me this sliding rheostat in your hand?"

When Ohm heard Gauss speak, he immediately took off the sliding rheostat and offered it with both hands: "Of course, you can use it as long as you want."

"Thank you." Gauss took the sliding rheostat, turned around silently, and began to use the equipment in the laboratory to rebuild the circuit.

Although Ohm had verified the experiment in front of him, Gauss still had doubts about the final result, because he suspected that the linear relationship between current and voltage might be due to the insufficient accuracy of Ohm's homemade ammeter.

Gauss had already started the experiment over there, but Weber and Arthur were still around the experimental table, looking at the manuscript with the experimental data again and again.

Weber raised his eyebrows, nudged Arthur with his elbow, and asked in a low voice: "Mr. Dean, have you figured it out?"

Arthur didn't say anything, he just picked up the pen on the experimental table and wrote a line of formula on the blank space on the paper - voltage = current x resistance.

Weber saw this line of formula, turned his head and looked at the experimental data, and couldn't help laughing: "Mr. Navi and Mr. Coriolis wrote to say that you are a genius in mathematics. I didn't believe it at the time, but now it seems that they are really right."

When Ohm saw the formula written by Arthur, he clenched his fists excitedly.

This is not only because Arthur expressed his recognition of the accuracy of the experimental data, but also because Arthur actually wrote the word "resistance" directly.

You know, the reason why he was widely attacked in "Calculation of Electric Current" was because he proposed the new concept of "resistance".

In this era, electricity is still an emerging field, and many basic concepts have not yet been fully established. In addition, most researchers lack sophisticated enough experimental equipment to measure the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. Therefore, the concept of resistance was not widely accepted by the scientific community, let alone as clear as later generations.

As the number two figure in British electromagnetics and one of the academic authorities on electromagnetics in Europe, Sir Arthur Hastings dared to write the word "resistance", which is enough to illustrate his attitude.

Arthur turned on the current switch on the experimental table, and lightly put the end of his cigar in front of the electric spark. Bright sparks and light cyan smoke slowly rose in the laboratory: "I support the results of Mr. George Ohm's argument. "

When Ohm heard these words, the burden that had been weighing on him for six years seemed to be lifted away in an instant. His calves were slightly weak, so much so that he had to hold on to the experimental table to stand up.

Weber noticed Ohm's movements from the corner of his eye, but he deliberately pretended not to see it. Weber, who is also a natural philosophy researcher, certainly knew what Arthur's words just meant to Ohm, so he didn't want to go. It would be disrespectful to disturb the excited Ohm because he was afraid that the gentleman would burst into tears.

Weber smiled gently and said: "Although I also support Mr. Ohm, I think... why don't you do an experiment to verify it?"

Arthur knew that Weber was tactfully reminding him not to make any judgments. Otherwise, if he made a mistake in the end, his academic reputation would be completely ruined.

But Arthur didn't care so much, he didn't want to do experiments. According to Agares, when he published his thesis with Mr. Faraday, all his experiments in his life had been completed.

Moreover, even if it is to be done, hasn't Gauss already started to take action? Why should he just mess around?

Arthur silently took another drag on his cigarette, and then pulled Faraday's name over to endorse it.

"Actually, when I was following Mr. Faraday, I had already done countless similar circuit experiments. At that time, I had already vaguely felt the relationship between current and voltage, but I had not thought at that time that there might be a 'resistance' ', so I have never been able to find the entrance to solve the mystery. After reading "Calculation of Electric Current", all my doubts were solved. Therefore, I can state my position without any further experimental verification. , I, Arthur Hastings, support George Ohm.”

Ohm had been suppressing his emotions, but now he heard Arthur repeating his position again, and the Bavarian man in his forties finally couldn't help but burst into tears.

He covered his face with his hands, crying and apologizing uncontrollably: "I'm sorry, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Webb, I...damn it, I..."

Seeing this situation, Weber smiled and scratched his head troubledly: "Mr. Ohm, you don't have to say anything, I understand how you feel. Moreover, I believe that Superintendent Hastings will also understand. After all, he is Mr. Faraday's assistant."

Arthur knew what Weber meant.

The reason why the other party wants to emphasize Faraday is because Faraday was falsely accused of academic plagiarism in his early years, and like Ohm, he was attacked because of his not-so-good family background. However, because Mr. Faraday's own academic quality was indeed excellent, he finally survived that difficult period and successfully proved that he did not plagiarize. He became famous because of this and eventually became the most respected scientist in the UK.

Weber saw the older man in front of them bursting into tears. On the one hand, he was happy for Ohm, but on the other hand, he didn't know how to deal with this scene, so he could only wink at Arthur without words: "You... Superintendent, you see that Mr. Ohm has come a long way, so you can’t let him go back just to verify an experiment, right?”

Of course, Arthur couldn't just let Ohm go back like this, because he didn't call Ohm over to do an experiment in the first place.

Arthur said: "Actually, I have been thinking about building an electromagnetics training system in Göttingen since I arrived in Göttingen. I came to the University of Göttingen to be a professor of electromagnetics because of the instruction of His Majesty the King. It is the Royal Government’s decision to open up the new field of electromagnetism in Göttingen, so we must perfect this new discipline. However, it is ultimately unrealistic for me alone to develop electromagnetism. …”

When Arthur said this, he took out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it to Ohm. He smiled and asked: "Mr. Ohm, I remember that you seemed to have served as a private lecturer at the University of Erlangen. In that case, you should be a permanent lecturer." Do you have a professor’s qualification issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria?”

When Ohm heard this, he couldn't help but raise his head in surprise. His eyes were red, as if he hadn't recovered from the excitement just now.

"I...I am qualified to be a professor."

Arthur nodded slightly when he heard this, and immediately took out the small notebook he carried with him from his pocket and signed a note: "Actually, from my personal point of view, I want to directly hire you as a professor at the University of Göttingen. But , you know, your theory is still not understood by most people, even among the professors at the University of Göttingen. Therefore, I can only do the next best thing and invite you to Göttingen. I am a private lecturer in electromagnetics at Gen University. As for my professorship..."

Ohm raised his sleeves and wiped away his tears. He nodded repeatedly: "This is not your fault. I know my reputation, and I also understand that it takes a process for my theory to be widely accepted. To be honest, even if you bluntly said that you are willing to Supporting me has given me great comfort, not to mention that you are willing to let me start classes at the University of Göttingen. I dare not ask for a professorship, because I know that even if you give me a lecturer status, you already need it. It’s been a lot of pressure.”

Ohm meant everything he said.

It can even be said that today's results have already exceeded his best expectations before coming to Göttingen University. How could he dare to ask for more.

Unexpectedly, Arthur smiled after listening to Ohm's words, and just shook his head slightly: "George, you misunderstood me."

"Have I misunderstood you?" Ohm raised his concerns again after having just let go: "Are you saying that the position of lecturer has to wait first?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

Arthur fiddled with the circuit switch on the experimental table and said: "I mean, I will give you the status of lecturer first this month. And wait until next month, the University of Göttingen will hold a European electromagnetics conference. At that time, including France, Famous European electromagnetic researchers including Mary Ampere of England, Michael Faraday of Britain, and Hans Oersted of Denmark will all be present.

Of course, as representatives of the organizer, Mr. Gauss, myself, and Mr. Weber will naturally attend. At that meeting, the University of Göttingen, as the host institution, naturally had to produce some decent results to announce to these well-known scholars. So, I wonder if you would like to represent the University of Göttingen and give an academic report based on your "Calculation of Current" at that conference? "

Ohm's whole body shook when he heard this. He felt his head buzzing, as if someone had hit him with a hammer.

Arthur didn't speak when he saw him, and walked around the laboratory with his hands behind his back: "Of course, this report is not in vain. After all, whether your theory is true or false, based on Mr. Faraday's, Mr. Ampere's and Mr. Auster's The level can definitely be seen. So, after you finish this academic report, I have every reason to officially award you the position of professor of electromagnetics at the University of Göttingen.”

"I...I..."

Ohm was holding the experimental table with one hand and pressing his heart with the other. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, but this time it was not because of nervousness, but because of happiness.

He just felt that all the words of gratitude he had learned in his life were not enough to express to Arthur how he felt at the moment.

He tremblingly stretched out his hand to Arthur. Unexpectedly, before Arthur could hold his hand, Ohm felt his eyes darken, and then he fell to the ground with a plop.

"Mr. Ohm? Mr. Ohm!"

"Damn it! Mr. Hastings, you shouldn't have made so many promises to him all at once!"

"How can you blame me? How did I know in advance that he was so weak?"