The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by Experiment: Containing Two Hundred Experiments Performed with Simple, Home-made ApparatusSt. John, Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew)
Science
The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by Experiment: Containing Two Hundred Experiments Performed with Simple, Home-made Apparatus
_=352. Measurement of Current Strength.=_ The _galvanoscope_ previously
described simply shows the presence of a current, or whether one
current is larger or smaller than another. When the degree-card is
used to get the relative deflections, the instrument may be called a
_galvanometer_.
_=The Tangent Galvanometer=_ is made on the same general idea as our
galvanoscope, the diameter of the coil being twenty times, or more,
the length of the needle. In these the strengths of the two currents
compared are proportional to the tangents of the angles of deflection
produced. (See Elementary Electrical Examples.) There are several
varieties of galvanometers, each designed for its special work. They
are often calibrated or standardized so that the amperes of current
passing through them can be read off directly from the scale.
_=353. The Ammeter=_ is really a galvanometer from which may be read
directly the strength of a current. The coil has a low resistance so
that it will not greatly reduce the strength of the current to be
tested.
_=The Voltameter=_ measures the strength of a current by chemical means.
_=354. Unit of Quantity; The Coulomb.=_ A current having a strength of
1 ampere will do more chemical work by flowing one hour than it can do
in 1 second. In speaking of the _quantity_ of electricity we introduce
the element of _time_. The unit of quantity is called the _coulomb_,
just as a cubic foot of water may be taken as a unit of quantity for
water. A coulomb is the quantity of electricity given, in one second,
by a current having a strength of 1 ampere. Coulombs are found by
multiplying amperes by seconds; thus, a current of 5 amperes will give
20 coulombs in 4 seconds.
_=355. Electrical Horse-power; The Watt.=_ The electric current has
power to do work, and we speak of the horse-power of an electric motor
in the same way as for a steam-engine. A current with the strength of 1
ampere and an E. M. F. of 1 volt has a unit of power called the watt.
746 watts make an electrical horse-power.
Watts = amperes × volts.
Watts ÷ 746 = the number of horse-power.
(See Transformers, also Elementary Electrical Examples.)
_=356. Ohm's Law.=_ It was first shown by Ohm that the strength of
a current is equal to its E. M. F. divided by the resistance in the
circuit; that is,
Strength of current (amperes) = E. M. F. (volts). / resistance (ohms).
If we let C stand for the strength in amperes, E for the E. M. F. in
volts, and R for the resistance in ohms, we have the short formula,
easily remembered,
C = E/R
_=357. An Ampere=_ would be produced by a current of 1 volt pushing
its way through a resistance of 1 ohm. Knowing any two of the three,
C, E, or, R, the other may be found. The resistance, R, it must be
remembered, is the total resistance in the circuit, and is composed of
the total internal and external resistances.
(See Elementary Electrical Examples.)
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