and on the Construction of Voltaic Batteries. 81 



sented in C and D; and (every circumstance being preserved 

 the same as before) C yielded 4*4 cubic inches of hydrogen, 

 and D precisely the same, viz. 4*4? cubic inches. 



When separated. When joined. 

 A was equal to 3*2 cub. in. C was equal to 4*4 cub. in. 

 B 16*0 D 4-4 cub. in. 



Total ... 19-2 Total ... 8*8 



From which it appears that when mutually operating the 

 action is distributed equally over both; but that its total 

 amount is reduced by about one half from that which took 

 place when the arrangements were distinct. 



This example will serve to indicate the kind and object of 

 the following experiments, with which I will now proceed 

 systematically. 



A. To determine the mutual influence exercised by arrange- 

 ments when they are of the same size. 



I prepared forty-eight arrangements, formed each of plates 

 of zinc and copper of the same size, each plate measuring four 

 square inches. I first took a number of these arrangements, 

 and immersed them separately, and found, by an average, the 

 loss that each sustained in a certain length of time. This 

 average I found to be 5*7 grains of zinc expended ; and it is 

 accordingly placed first in the annexed table, as a standard of 

 comparison. 



I now took two of these arrangements and connected them 

 as in the above example, and found the result of their action. 

 Then four such were connected, and the results ascertained 

 in the same way, as were also the results of combinations of 

 8, 16, 32, &c. as shown in the table. 



Table No. 9. 

 1st. Average loss of single arr 

 2nd. Two arrangements, gave 

 3rd. Four do. 

 4th. Eight do. 

 5th. Sixteen do. 

 6th. Thirty-two do. 

 7th. Forty do. 

 8th. Forty-eight do. 



Now it will be seen by this table that the amount of action in> 

 combined arrangements is less than the action in single ones. 

 For instance, the action of two such joined is about one third 

 less than takes place when they are used separately. This 

 was unexpected ; but not more so than some other results that 

 follow. I have had the greatest difficulty in deciding upon 

 the precise amount of the difference between the action of 



Third Series. Vol. 11. No. 65. Suppl. July 1837. M 



