Scientific American Supplement, No. 417, December 29, 1883Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 417, December 29, 1883
Various
Science -- Periodicals
This explains the fact before pointed out that the apparent percentage
of inductive radiant energy intercepted by metal plates varies with the
speed of the reversals; for in the case of copper the induced current
set up by such a plate has so long a duration that if the speed of the
reverser is at all rapid the induced current has not time to exhaust
itself before the galvanometer is reversed, and thus the current being
on the opposite side of the galvanometer tends to produce a lower
deflection. If the speed of the reverser be further increased, the
greater part of the induced current is received on the opposite terminal
of the galvanometer, so that a negative result is obtained.
We know that it was the strong analogies which exist between electricity
and magnetism that led experimentalists to seek for proofs that would
identify them as one and the same thing, and it was the result of
Professor Oersted's experiment to which I have already referred that
first identified them.
Probably the time is not far distant when it will be possible to
demonstrate clearly that heat and electricity are as closely allied;
then, knowing the great analogies existing between heat and light, may
we not find that heat, light, and electricity are modifications of
the same force or property, susceptible under varying conditions of
producing the phenomena now designated by those terms? For instance,
friction will first produce electricity, then heat, and lastly light.
As is well known, heat and light are reflected by metals; I was
therefore anxious to learn whether electricity could be reflected in
the same way. In order to ascertain this, spiral B was placed in this
position, which you will observe is parallel to the lines of force
emitted by spiral A. In this position no induced current is set up
therein, so the galvanometer is not affected; but when this plate of
metal is placed at this angle it intercepts the lines of force, which
cause it to radiate, and the secondary lines of force are intercepted
and converted into induced currents by spiral B to the power indicated
by the galvanometer. Thus the phenomenon of reflection appears to be
produced in a somewhat similar manner to reflection of heat and light.
The whole arrangement of this experiment is as shown on the sheet before
you numbered 5, which I need not, I think, more fully explain to you
than by saying that the secondary lines of force are represented by the
dotted lines.
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