On the Connexion of the Physical SciencesSomerville, Mary
Science
On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences
Somerville, Mary
Physical sciences; Science
together, become electric. When separated the white ribbon is found to
have acquired positive electricity, and the black negative; but if the
whole length of the black ribbon be drawn across the breadth of the
white, the black will be positively and the white negatively electric
when separated. The friction of the rubber on the glass plate of the
electrifying machine produces abundance of static electricity. The
friction of the steam on the valve of an insulated locomotive
steam-engine produces seven times the quantity of electricity that an
electrifying machine would do with a plate three feet in diameter,
worked at the rate of 70 revolutions in a minute. Pressure is a source
of electricity which M. Becquerel has found to be common to all bodies;
but it is necessary to separate them to prevent the reunion of the
electricities. When two substances of any kind whatever are insulated
and pressed together they assume different electric states, but they
only show contrary electricities when one of them is a good conductor.
When both are good conductors they must be separated with extreme
rapidity to prevent a return to equilibrium. When the separation is very
sudden the tension of the two electricities may be great enough to
produce light. M. Becquerel attributes the light produced by the
collision of icebergs to this cause. Iceland spar is made electric by
the smallest pressure between the finger and the thumb, and retains it
for a long time. All these circumstances are modified by the temperature
of the substances, the state of their surfaces and that of the
atmosphere. Several crystalline bodies become electric when heated,
especially tourmaline, one end of which acquires positive, and the other
negative electricity, while the intermediate part is neutral. If the
tourmaline be broken through the middle, each fragment is found to
possess positive electricity at one end and negative at the other.
Electricity is evolved by substances passing from a liquid to a solid
state, and by chemical action during the production and condensation of
vapour, which is a great source of atmospheric electricity. In short, it
may be generally stated, that when any cause whatever tends to destroy
molecular attraction there is a development of electricity; if, however,
the substances be not immediately separated, there will be an
instantaneous restoration of equilibrium.
Electricity may be transferred from one body to another in the same
manner as heat is communicated, and like it too the body loses by the
transmission.
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