CONQUEST OF THE ATOM

Recreates experiments of J. J. Thompson, who proved that the atom can be separated into electrons and positive particles; Ernest Rutherford, who proved that the atom consists of a central core — the nucleus — with one or more electrons circulating around it; Sir John Cockcroft, who split the lithium atom by proton bombardment; Sir James Chadwick, who discovered the neutron, and Hahn and Strassman, who split the uranium atom by neutron bombardment. Shows that in an atomic pile the chain reaction is controlled so that a continuous supply of energy can be produced.