Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885
Various
Science -- Periodicals
3. _The two surfaces of the selenium act differently toward currents_
sent into them from the contiguous conductors. One surface offers a
higher resistance to the current than the other. The former I utilize as
the anode surface, as I have found that the cell is more sensitive to
light when the current enters at that surface, which is ordinarily the
one covered by the gold or other transparent conductor. Some cells have
this property but feebly developed; but in one instance the resistance
offered to the current by the anode surface was 256 times as high as that
offered by the cathode surface to the same current. In the majority of
cases, however, the ratio does not exceed ten times. Table B gives some
recent results.
TABLE B.
SENSITIVENESS TO REVERSAL OF DIRECTION OF CURRENT.
-----------------------+--------------+------------------+---------
| | Resistance |
No. of cell. | Battery. | "gold | "gold | Ratio
| | anode."|cathode."|
-----------------------+--------------+--------+---------+---------
| | ohms. | ohms. |
3/8 inch square. No. 4 | 5 elements. | 20,000 | 1,000 | 20 to 1
" " " 3 | Se. cell. | 6,500 | 400 | 16.2 "
Full size, No. 13 | 1 element. | 9,000 | 800 | 11.2 "
" " " 14 | 5 " | 2,440 | 130 | 18 "
" " " 15 | 5 " | 4,640 | 210 | 22 "
" " " 27 | 5 " | 6,900 | 440 | 16 "
" " " 126 | 1 " | 5,000 | 330 | 15 "
-----------------------+--------------+--------+---------+---------
The direction of the current is always indicated by stating the position
of the gold electrode, by the terms "gold anode" and "gold cathode." The
above measurements were made in dark.
4. _Sensitiveness to change of battery power_.--My cells are extremely
sensitive to any change in the strength or character of the current
flowing through them, which is shown by a corresponding change in the
resistance of the cell. I can, therefore, vary the resistance of one of
my cells in many ways, and the following may be specified--
(a) By changing the potential or electromotive force of the current
through the cell.
(b) By changing the "quantity" of the battery or current.
(c) By putting more or less resistance in the circuit.
(d) By dividing the current, by one or more branch circuits or shunts
around the cell.
(e) By varying the resistance in any or all of said circuits.
A cell whose resistance becomes greater as the battery power becomes
greater, and _vice versa_, I call an "L B cell" signifying _Like the
Battery power_. A "U B cell" is one whose resistance becomes greater as
the battery power (or strength of current) becomes less, and _vice
versa_, being _Unlike the Battery power_, or current strength.
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