Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883
Various
Science -- Periodicals
I was anxious to show, upon the reading of this paper, some mechanical
movement produced by molecular rotation, consequently I have arranged
two bells that are struck alternately by a polarized armature put in
motion by the double polarized rod I have already described, but whose
position, at three centimeters distant from the axis of the armature,
remains invariably the same. The magnetic armature consists of a
horizontal light steel bar suspended by its central axle; the bells are
thin wine glasses, giving a clear musical tone loud enough, by the force
with which they are struck, to be clearly heard at some distance. The
armature does not strike these alternately by a pendulous movement, as
we may easily strike only one continuously, the friction and inertia of
the armature causing its movements to be perfectly dead beat when not
driven by some external force, and it is kept in its zero position by a
strong directive magnet placed beneath its axle.
The mechanical power obtained is extremely evident, and is sufficient to
put the sluggish armature in rapid motion, striking the bells six times
per second, and with a power sufficient to produce tones loud enough to
be clearly heard in all parts of the hall of the Society. As this is
the first direct transformation of molecular motion into mechanical
movement, I am happy to show it on this occasion.
There is nothing remarkable in the bells themselves, as they evidently
could be rung if the armature was surrounded by a coil, and worked by an
electric current from a few cells. The marvel, however, is in the small
steel superposed magnetic wire producing by slight elastic torsions from
a single wire, one millimeter in diameter, sufficient force from mere
molecular rotation to entirely replace the coil and electric current.
ELASTIC NATURE OF THE ETHER SURROUNDING THE MAGNETIC MOLECULES.
During these researches I have remarked a peculiar property of
magnetism, viz., that not only can the molecules be rotated through any
degree of arc to its maximum, or saturation, but that, while it requires
a comparatively strong force to overcome its rigidity or resistance to
rotation, it has a small field of its own through which it can move with
excessive freedom, trembling, vibrating, or rotating through a small
degree with infinitely less force than would be required to rotate it
permanently on either side. This property is so marked and general that
we can observe it without any special iron or apparatus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account