428 Mr. Faraday's Researches in Electricity. [SeriesXI. ) 



to a greater sum of inductive forces than the middle ; and a 

 point is brought to a higher condition than a ball, because, 

 by relation to the conductors around, more inductive force 

 terminates on its surface than on an equal surface of the ball 

 with which it is compared. Here too, especially, can be per- 

 ceived the influence of the lateral or transverse^force (1297.), 

 which, being a power of the nature of or equivalent to repul- 

 sion, causes such a disposition of the lines of inductive force 

 in their course across the dielectric, that they must accumulate 

 upon the point, the end of the cylinder, or any projecting 

 part. 



1303. The influence of distance is also in harmony with 

 the same view. There is perhaps no distance so great that 

 induction cannot take place through it * : but with the same 

 constraining force (1298.) it takes place the more easily, ac- 

 cording as the extent of dielectric through which it is exerted 

 is lessened. And as it is assumed by the theory that the par- 

 ticles of the dielectric, though tending to remain in a normal 

 state, are thrown into a forced condition during the induc- 

 tion ; so it would seem to follow that the fewer there are of 

 these intervening particles opposing their tendency to the 

 assumption of the new state, the greater degree of change 

 will they suffer, i. e. the higher will be the condition they 

 assume, and the larger the amount of inductive action exerted 

 through them. 



1304. I have used the phrases lines of inductive force and 

 curved lines of force (1231. 1297. 1298. 1302.) in a general 

 sense only, just as we speak of the lines of magnetic force. 

 The lines are imaginary, and the force in any part of them 

 is of course the resultant of compound forces, every molecule 

 being related to every other molecule in all directions by the 

 tension and reaction of those which are contiguous. The 

 transverse force is merely this relation considered in a direction 

 oblique to the lines of inductive force, and at present I mean 

 no more than that by the phrase. With respect to the term 

 polarity also, I mean at present only a disposition of force by 

 which the same molecule acquires opposite powers on different 

 parts. The particular way in which this disposition is made 

 will come into consideration hereafter, and probably varies in 

 different bodies, and so produces variety of electrical relation. 



• I have traced it experimentally from a ball placed in the middle of 

 the large cube formerly described (1173.) to the sides of the cube six feet 

 distant, and also from the same ball placed in the middle of our large 

 lecture-room to the walls of the room at twenty-six feet distance, the 

 charge upon the ball in these cases being solely due to induction through 

 these distances. 



