1278 Uev. Mr Scoresby wi some of the Laws 



Experiment 1. — For the Sttspefision of Iron Balls. 



These balls consist of the best soft iron, and require to be 

 turned in a lathe and well polished. A convenient size is ^%ths 

 of an inch in diameter, weighing about 70 grains. Of this de- 

 scription sixty to eighty balls will be requisite, and from twenty 

 to thirty, of smaller dimensions, in a graduated series. 



The suspension of the balls in a single dependent chain of 

 connexion, is a satisfactory means of trying the power of the 

 magnets. A pair of good twelve-inch magnets will suspend 

 about six equal balls of seventy grains weight, — perhaps eight 

 or nine, if gradually reduced in size towards the bottom; whilst 

 ray three-feet magnets will sustain no less than fifteen equal 

 balls, or eighteen diminishing in size, in a single series. Here 

 we have a beautiful illustration of the inductive power of the 

 magnet, assisted by the inductive influence of each ball upon 

 the one contiguous to it in the series. The polarity of the first 

 of the chain is developed directly by the action of the magnets, 

 but the second is at once influenced by the first ball and by the 

 magnet, and so on throughout the series. 



The balls, when employed without any other apparatus, may 

 be attached by the magnetic influence in a number of pleasing 

 forms, as festoons, fringes, and bunches of grapes. 



But I proceed to describe some more novel arrangements. 



Experiment 2. — For the Suspension erf Balls at the extremities 

 of Crooked Wires. 



(1.) — Fig. 7. represents a modification of the experiment 

 with the balls, which has a very pleasing effect. For this expe- 

 riment two pieces of iron-wire, about 3 inches long, and Jth in 

 diameter, bent into the form represented at h, and notched into 

 each other, are added. Being crossed at the notched part, and 

 attached to the pole of the three-feet magnets, each extremity of 

 the wires will sustain eleven or twelve equal balls. The sub- 

 stance between the wires and the magnets is an oblong piece of 

 polished iron, by the interposition of which the effect of the ex- 

 periment is improved, though the number of balls capable of 

 being suspended is diminished. It may be necessary to observe, 

 once for all, that the points of contact of all the substances em- 



