Popular Scientific Recreations: in Natural Philosphy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, etc., etc., etc.Tissandier, Gaston
Science
Popular Scientific Recreations: in Natural Philosphy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, etc., etc., etc.
Tissandier, Gaston
Scientific recreations
We may remark that other bodies besides iron and steel are capable of
magnetization; nickel and cobalt have the like property. Magnetism,
properly so called, treats of certain bodies known as MAGNETS,
describes the properties they possess, and the influence of magnetic
force upon other substances. Electricity and magnetism are always
associated, but practically the force is the same, electricity being
the current or motive power, so to speak; and it is to Faraday that the
world is indebted for the discovery of magneto-electricity.
Epinus’ theory of magnetism was that all bodies possessed a substance
he termed magnetic fluid, the particles of which repelled each other.
But while supposed to repel each other, they attracted particles in
other bodies. Thus they attracted iron. Coulomb asserted that there
were two fluids—a north and south fluid. Ampère’s theory was that
magnetic bodies are made up of molecules, round which currents are
always circulating in all directions when non-magnetized, but when
magnetized the currents all flow in the same direction. The space
through which a magnet diffuses its influence was called by Faraday
the _Magnetic Field_. The lines of _magnetic force_ will be understood
from the accompanying illustration (fig. 263). If we cover a magnet
with a paper and scatter iron filings over it, we shall see the manner
in which the filings arrange themselves. They radiate in curves from
the poles of the magnet, and are dependent upon its form. If it be a
straight bar magnet, evenly magnetized, they will turn inward in oval
curves.
[Illustration: Fig. 263.—Lines of magnetic force.]
[Illustration: Fig. 264.—Magnetization.]
The manner of magnetization has already been mentioned, but here we
will give further illustrations of the method of _magnetization_. Four
magnets are used, two being placed with their opposite poles apart,
and upon them is placed the bar of which a magnet is to be made. Two
other magnets separated by a piece of wood are then brought near, and
subsequently drawn from the centre to the ends of the bar. This is the
_separated touch_ system; the _double touch_ of Mitchell is completed
by moving the upper two magnets from end to end backwards and forwards,
and finally lifting them away from the centre.
A magnet, then, is a bar of steel endowed with certain properties, such
as attracting iron, etc.; and electro-magnetism is the term applied to
the production of magnetism by means of electricity, the medium being
the electro-magnet. To understand the science it will be necessary to
mention Ampère’s theory of magnetism.
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