Chapter 543 Fantasy Reality

Two years may be a short time in a person's life. But two years are enough to make a qualitative change in a person's life. What contribution did Arthur Hastings make to the progress of human civilization as a whole when he served as proctor of the University of Göttingen and special representative of the country from 1833 to 1834?

George Ohm, who had been buried in the academic world, was rediscovered by him. This future Copley Medal winner and a famous European scientist shined brightly at the University of Göttingen. Gauss and Weber, with the help of Arthur Hastings, built the world's first geomagnetic monitoring station, and together with Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Whetstone, they founded the Göttingen Electromagnetics Society.

Bismarck, the iron-blooded Prime Minister who would rule the German Empire in the future, showed his talents for the first time in Göttingen. Although he was just an irritable and irritable boy at this time, Arthur quickly taught him the skills of dealing with 'reptiles'. When Bismarck was showing his power in the Gestapo, a child from an ordinary farmer's family traveled more than a hundred miles across mountains and rivers to the small Hanoverian city of Göttingen.

Although this child will become a very important figure in the German industry many years later, sitting on a wealth that is the envy of people all over the world. But at that time, he was still worried about paying for college. He wants to continue engaging in the noble profession of practical science, but if he cannot solve the financial problems, he must 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 Göttingen, there is a slight metallic smell in the air.

The newly renovated laboratory is very spacious and bright, but since the newly purchased instruments have not yet arrived, there are currently only a few simple wooden tables filled with books, manuscripts and instruments, and various circuit diagrams and circuit diagrams are hung on the walls. Sketch drawn by scientists.

Gauss, Weber, Ohm and Arthur gathered around an experimental table filled with various copper coils, batteries and magnets.

However, although there are four people standing here, only Ohm is actually doing the work.

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

Ohm didn't use much experimental equipment, just a few thermoelectric cells, a long copper wire, a sliding resistor and two crude galvanometers 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 just 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 the material or the direction of the current. Moreover, this may be his last chance in this life.

The giant of mathematics John Karl Gauss, the genius of electromagnetics William Weber, and Arthur Hastings, the second person in British electromagnetism under Faraday, are all watching!

He then connected the galvanometer to the copper wire. As the current was turned on, the galvanometer's pointer jumped slightly, indicating the current flowing through the wire. Ohm knew that every piece of data he was about to measure was crucial.

He adjusted the voltage of the battery, carefully recording the voltage and current values ​​after each change. He held the voltmeter firmly in his hand, observing and thinking. After each recording, Ohm would pause for a moment and double-check the data to make sure there were no errors.

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

However, Gauss, who was cautious in nature, did not express his opinion immediately. Instead, he politely asked Ohm: "Sorry, Mr. Ohm, can you lend me this sliding rheostat in your hand?"

When Ohm heard Gauss speak, he immediately removed the sliding rheostat and presented 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 build the circuit again.

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 because Ohm's homemade galvanometer was not accurate enough.

Gauss had already started conducting experiments there, but Weber and Arthur were still surrounding the experimental table, looking at the manuscript paper recording the experimental data over and over again.

Weber raised his eyebrows, nudged Arthur next to him with his elbow, and asked in a low voice: "Your Excellency, Superintendent, do you see it?"

Arthur didn't speak. He just picked up the pen on the experimental table and wrote a line of formulas in the blank space of the paper - voltage = current X resistance.

When Weber saw this line of formulas, he turned to look at the experimental data, and couldn't help but laugh: "Mr. Navier and Mr. Coriolis wrote to me before, saying that you are a genius in mathematics. I didn't believe it at the time. But now it seems that they were absolutely right.”

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

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

You know, the reason why he was widely attacked in "The 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 Om 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 with his backhand 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. Webber, 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 saying anything: "You... Superintendent, you see Mr. Ohm has come a long way, you can’t just verify an experiment and just let him go back, 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 astonishment. 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, there are many opponents. Therefore, for the time being, I can only do the next best 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 and said: "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 the University of Göttingen. 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, having just let go of it for a while: "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, as the host institution, we at the University of Göttingen naturally had to come up with 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?"