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Edward Bennett Rosa

Born  1873
Died  1921

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American physicist, born October 4, 1873, Rogersville, Steuben County, N. Y.; died May 17, 1921, Washington, D. C.

Biography of Edward Bennett Rosa

Edward Bennett Rosa was the son of Reverend Edward David and Sarah Gilmore (Roland) Rosa; the grandson of Cornelius and Mary (Doty) Rosa; and a descendant of Albert Heymans Roosa, who
emigrated from Holland in 1660 and settled with his wife and family of eight children on the Hudson River, near Newburgh, N. Y.

He received his college education at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, from which he was graduated at the head of his class, receiving the degree of B. S. in 1886.

He subsequently taught physics and chemistry in the English and Classical School in Providence, Rhode Island, where he remained two years. He then entered Johns Hopkins University as a graduate student in and received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1891. In 1906, in recognition of his contributions to science, the honorary degree of Doctor of Science was conferred upon him by Wesleyan University.

During the first part of the year 1890 Dr. Rosa was assistant professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin, leaving there to become associate professor of physics at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut in 1891, and professor of physics in 1892. He retained the professorship of physics (the Charlotte Augusta Ayers' professorship) for ten years, when, in 1901, he was called to the newly-organized National Bureau of Standards, at Washington. There, as physicist, and later on, as chief physicist, he continued through the remainder of his life. His was a short span of three score years—one score of which was spent at the National Bureau of Standards.

Dr. Rosa's research work began at Wesleyan University, where in association with Professor Wilbur Olin Atwater (1844-1907), he developed the physical side of the respiration calorimeter, known
under the joint name Atwater-Rosa respiration calorimeter. The practical details of the construction of the instrument were chiefly Dr. Rosa's. This apparatus was of great value in the pioneer investigations of the value of foods, and in the study of problems in nutrition.

While at Wesleyan University he invented and developed a curve tracer (the Rosa curve tracer) for delineating the form of alternating electric currents, a problem of interest in the operation of alternating current machinery. The original curve tracer is still to be seen in the physical laboratory of Wesleyan University.

Probably the most important epoch in Dr. Rosa's scientific life began in 1901 when he undertook work at the National Bureau of Standards, under the directorship of Samuel Wesley Stratton (1861-1931). In those days, the second in command was Dr. Rosa, ranking physicist and chief of the electrical division, where from the start he proved his abilities as an efficient administrator.

When Dr. Rosa began his work in the Electrical Division of the National Bureau of Standards it was his ambition to determine a number of the fundamental electrical constants to a degree of accuracy far exceeding all previous determinations. To partly attain this goal he was singularly fortunate in having as a co-worker, Dr. N. E. Dorsey.

One of these determinations was the ratio of the electromagnetic and the electrostatic units. This work was started early in 1907 in conjunction with Dr. Dorsey, through whose skillful and painstaking experimental technique there resulted the most accurate determination yet made of this constant.

About 1907 Dr. Rosa with Dr. Dorsey started their determination of the absolute value of the ampere. This work extended over a period of years, and gave a more reliable value of the ampere than any previously obtained. In order to obtain a concrete representation of the ampere, Dr. Rosa with the assistance of Dr. G. W. Vinal carried on an investigation of the silver voltameter simultaneously with the absolute determination of the ampere, and it is largely as a result of this work that
we are now able to define the ampere in a satisfactory manner.

In 1910 under Dr. Rosa's direction an exhaustive investigation was instituted into the subject of electrolytic corrosion of underground gas and water pipes, and lead cable sheaths, due
to stray currents from electric railways.

During World War I Rosa directed the development of a number of scientific instruments which were of great value to the American Forces in France. Among these were a sound ranging device for locating big guns ; the geophone for the detection of mining operations; the development of aircraft radio apparatus; and the improvement of radio direction finders by which enemy ships and air craft could be located.

Under his direction at the National Bureau of Standards was established perhaps the finest radio research laboratory in the country, and he always showed an intense interest in improving
apparatus and methods of radio communication. In addition to his diversified work in the field of electrical research, Dr. Rosa was keenly interested in the prevention of industrial accidents and in the promulgation of safety standards for use by state, municipal and insurance organizations. He conceived the idea of a National Electrical Safety Code.

Edward Bennett Rosa, chief physicist, died suddenly while engaged in work in his office at the National Bureau of Standards at Washington, D. C, in the afternoon of May 17, 1921.

He was married to Mary Evans, daughter of William W. Evans of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 1894. There were no children.

  • Samuel Wesley Stratton:
    Edward Bennett Rosa. Science, June 24, 1921, 53 (1382): 569.

  • William Weber Coblentz (1873-1962):
    Biographical memoir of Edward Bennet Rosa, 1861-1921.
    National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Biographical memoirs, volume 16, eight memoir. Presented to the Academy at the autumn meeting, 1934.

Bibliography

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  • Specific Inductive Capacity of Electrolytes.
    Philosophical Magazine, 1891, 31: 188-207.
  • Further Experiments on the Specific Inductive Capacity of Electrolytes.
    Philosophical Magazine, 1892, 34: 344-351.
  • Self Induction and Capacity. Electrical World, 1895, 25: 657-660.
  • The Evolution of an Electric Motor.
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  • An Electrical Curve Tracer. Physical Review, 1898, 6: 17-42.
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  • A Calorimetric Determination of Energy Dissipated in Condensers.
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  • A New Respiration Calorimeter. With W. O. Atwater.
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  • On the Metabolism of Matter in the Living Body.
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  • The Human Body as an Engine.
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  • Energy and Work of the Human Body.
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  • The Organization and Work of the Bureau of Standards.
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  • The Variation of Manganin Resistances with Atmospheric Humidity.
    The Electrician, London, November 15. 1907.
  • An International Cooperative Investigation on Electrical Standards.
    Science, 1910, 31: 608-611.
  • Incandescent Electric Lamps as Photometric Standards.
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  • Photometric Units and Nomenclature.
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  • Insulation as a Means of Minimizing Electrolysis in Underground Pipes.
    With Burton McCollum. American Gas Institute, 1911, 57.
  • Photometric Units and Standards.
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    Science, 1912, 34: 8-19.
  • The Use of Gas for Heat and Power; the Testing of Gas.
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    Paper given before the National Cement Association, Pittsburgh, December 1912.
  • The International Candle. Congresso internazional delle applicazioni electtriche Torino, 1911. Torino, 1912: 6 pages.
  • Work of the International Technical Committee on Electrical Units.
    With F. A. Wolff.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, June 4, 1912, 2 (2): 259-267.
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  • The Silver Voltameter II. With G. W. Vinal and A. S. McDaniel.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, December 19, 1912, 2 (21): 509-513.
  • The Silver Voltameter III. With G. W. Vinal and A. S. McDaniel.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, January 19, 1913, 3 (2): 40-45.
  • The Silver Voltameter IV. With G. W. Vinal and A. S. McDaniel.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, February 4, 1914, 4 (3): 52-58.
  • Legal Specifications for Illuminating Gas. With R. S. McBride.
    Bureau of Standards, Technical Paper, January 10, 1913, 14, 31 pages.
  • Electrolysis in Concrete. With B. McCollum and 0. S. Peters.
    Bureau of Standards, Technical Paper, March 19, 1913, No. 18: 137 pages.
  • Flame Standards in Photometry. With E. C. Crittenden.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, Scientific Paper 222, April 1, 1914, volume 10: 557-595.
  • Bureau of Standards and the Central Station Industry.
    N. E. L. A. Bull. 1914, New series, volume 1: 8 pages.
  • Recent Researches in Electricity at the Bureau of Standards.
    Journal of The Franklin Institute, November 1915: 539-559.
  • The Function of Research in the Regulations of Natural Monopolies.
    Science, April 18, 1913, new series 37 (955): 579-593.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, April 19, 1913 3 (8): 201-222.
  • Electrolysis and Its Mitigation. An account of the Work of the Bureau of Standards on the Subject of the Destructive Effects of Electric Current on Reinforced Concrete and Underground Pipes and Cable Sheaths and their Mitigation.
    Journal of the New England Water Works Association, 1915, 29 (1): 49-72.
  • Effect of Atmospheric Pressure on the Candlepower of Various Flames.
    With E. C. Crittenden and A. H. Taylor.
    Transactions of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 1915, 10: 24 pages.
  • The Integrating Sphere, Its Construction and Use. With A. H. Taylor.
    Transactions of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 1916, 11: 21 pages.
  • National Gas Safety Code. Gas Institute News, 1916: 504-507.
  • The Silver Voltameter as an International Standard for the Measurement of Electric Current.
    With G. W. Vinal.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Washington D.C., January 1917, 3: 59-64.
  • Economic Importance of the Scientific Work of the Government.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, June 19, 1920, 10 (12): 341-377.
    Scientific Monthly, July 1920, 2 (1): 5-24,.
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    Scientific Monthly, August 1920, 2 (3): 246-253.
  • Civil Service Reform.
    Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, November 19, 1920, 10 (19): 533-558.
  • Scientific and Engineering Work of the Government.
    Mechanical Engineering, February 1921, 43 (2): 111-118.
  • Expenditures and Revenues of the Federal Government.
    The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, May 1921, 95 (1518): 1-132.
  • Atmospheric Corrections for the Harcourt Standard Pentane Lamp.
    With E. C. Crittenden and A. H. Taylor.
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    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, October 15, 1904, 1: 125-152.
  • The Absolute Measurement of Capacity. With F. W. Grover.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, November 1, 1904, 1: 153-187.
  • Measurement of Inductance by Anderson's Method, Using Alternating Currents and a Vibration Galvanometer. With F. W. Grover.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, August 15, 1905 1: 291-336.
  • The Use of Serpentine in Standards of Inductance. With F. W. Grover.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, August 15, 1905, 1: 337-348.
  • Wattmeter Methods of Measuring Power Expended Upon Condensers and Circuits of Low Power Factor.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, September 1, 1905, 1: 383-397.
  • Influence of Wave Form on the Rate of Integrating Induction Wattmeters.
    With M. G. Lloyd and C. E. Reid.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, August 15, 1905, 1: 421-434.
  • The Gray Absolute Electrodynamometer.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, January 30, 1906, 2: 71-86.
  • Calculation of the Self-Inductance of Single-Layer Coils.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, March 15, 1906, 2: 161-187.
  • Revision of the Formulae of Weinstein and Stefan for the Mutual Inductance of Coaxial Coils.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, September 1, 1906, 2: 331-357.
  • The Mutual Inductance of Two Circular Coaxial Coils of Rectangular Section.
    With L. Cohen.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, September 1, 1906, 2: 359-414.
  • On the Geometrical Mean Distances of Rectangular Areas and the Calculation of Self-Inductance.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, November 1, 1906, 3: 1-41.
  • The Compensated Two-Circuit Electrodynamometer.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, November 1, 1906, 3: 43-58.
  • The Mutual Inductance of a Circle and a Coaxial Single-Layer Coil. The Lorenz Apparatus and the Ayrton-Jones Absolute Electrodynamometer.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, March 1, 1907, 3: 209-236.
  • The Mutual Inductance of Coaxial Solenoids. With L. Cohen.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, March 30, 1907, 3: 305-324.
  • A New Determination of the Ratio of the Electromagnetic to the Electrostatic Unit of Electricity.
    With N. E. Dorsey. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, May 20, 1907, 3: 433-604.
  • A Comparison of the Various Methods of Determining the Ratio of the Electromagnetic to the Electrostatic Unit of Electricity. With N. E. Dorsey.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, June 25, 1907, 3: 605-622.
  • The Variation of Resistances with Atmospheric Humidity. With H. D. Babcock.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, October 4, 1907, 4: 121-140.
  • The Self-Inductance of a Toroidal Coil of Rectangular Section.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, August 10, 1907, 4: 141-148.
  • On the Self-Inductance of Circles. With L. Cohen.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, August 10, 1907, 4: 149-159.
  • The Self and Mutual Inductance of Linear Conductors.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, September 15, 1907, 5: 301-344.
  • The Self-Inductance of a Coil of Any Length wound with Any Number of Layers of Wire. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, October 12, 1907, 4: 369-381.
  • Formula; and Tables for the Calculation of Mutual and Self-Inductance.
    With L. Cohen. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, October 1, 1907, 5: 1-132.
  • A New Form of Standard Resistance.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, October 1, 1908, 5: 413-434.
  • A New Method for the Absolute Measurement of Resistance.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, February 27, 1909, 5: 499-509.
  • The Determination of the Ratio of Transformation and of the Phase Relations in Transformers. With M. G. Lloyd.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, February 25, 1909, 6: 1-30.
  • Photometric Units and Nomenclature.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, May 10, 1910, 6: 543-572.
  • Formulas and Tables for the Calculation of Mutual and Self-Inductance.
    With F. W. Grover.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, January 1, 1911, 8: 1-237.
  • A Determination of the International Ampere in Absolute Measure.
    With N. E. Dorsey and J. M. Miller.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, September 9, 1911, 8: 269-393.
  • Special Studies in Electrolysis Mitigation I. With Burton McCollum.
    Bureau of Standards, Technical Paper, 1914, No. 27: 55 pages.
  • Special Studies in Electrolysis Mitigation II. With Burton McCollum and K. H. Logan.
    Bureau of Standards, Technical Paper, 1914, No. 32: 34 pages.
  • The Silver Voltameter—Part I. With G. W. Vinal. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1912, volume 9, Scientific Paper No. 194: 151-207.
  • The Silver Voltameter—Part II. With G. W. Vinal and A. S. Mc-Daniel.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1912, volume 9, Scientific Paper No. 195: 209-282.
  • The Silver Voltameter—Part III. With G. W. Vinal and A. S. Mc-Daniel.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1913, volume 9, Scientific Paper No. 201: 493-551.
  • The Silver Voltameter—Part IV. With G. W. Vinal and A. S. Mc-Daniel.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1914, volume 10, Scientific Paper No. 220: 475-536.
  • Flame Standards in Photometry. With E. C. Crittenden.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1914, volume 10, Scientific Paper No. 222: 557-596.
  • Volume Effect in the Silver Voltameter. With G. W. Vinal.
    Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1916, volume 13, Scientific Paper No. 283: 447-458; 1916.
  • Summary of Experiments on the Silver Voltameter at the Bureau' of Standards and Proposed Specifications. With G. W. Vinal. B. S. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1916, volume 13, Scientific Paper No. 285: 479-515.
  • Theory, Construction, and Use of the Photometric Integrating Sphere.
    With A. H. Taylor. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards, 1922, volume 18, Scientific Paper No. 447: 281-326.

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