Observations on a series of electrical experiments / By Dr Hoadly, and Mr Wilson.

  • Benjamin Hoadly
Date:
1756
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on a series of electrical experiments / By Dr Hoadly, and Mr Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/80 (page 6)
    And the reafon of this is, that the fluid within the bar cannot return to its natural ftate without part of it is thrown out of the bar ; but the filk lines, by wdiich it is fufpended, and the clean dry air, with which it is every where furrounded, refill the admiffion of this fluid within them the ftrongeft of molt bodies: and therefore when the bar is once ele&rified, it is thus difpofed in the properelt manner to remain fo, as all the bodies contiguous to it, will not admit any of this fluid into them, but with the greateft difficulty. In the next place, I confider that a more extended furface refills more than one lefs fo, and that bodies ending with points hardly refill at all; and confequently, that I fhould choofe a bar of iron extended in length, and having its ends fhaped into fpherical forms, or ending with large knobs. And laflly, I confider, that if I take care to have a high polifli given to the bar, I fhall Hill give a greater power, when once it is electrified, to refill being un- eleClrified : which I have fuppofed to be the drift of my experiment. But now I have thus made choice of the moll proper bar, and difpofed of this bar in the bell manner in or¬ der to produce the greatell effeft when it is made to re¬ turn to its natural Hate; I have evidently placed it in the moll difadvantageous circumllances for eleftrifying it: for the filk lines, and the quantity of air furround¬ ing it, and the particular fhape, and polifh of the bar. / are