280 Mr. C. Binks on Electricity^ Voltaic Batte7'ies, S;c, 



and direction ; and follows as a consequence of that law of ac- 

 tion of voltaic arrangements stated in the previous part of this 

 paper {section 1, 38, et seq.). 



171. I find that the electrical influence developed in such 

 single arrangements, diffuses itself from the generating to the 

 conducting metal to such an extent, and in such a manner, 

 that it occupies upon the surface of the latter a space exactly 

 thirty-two times greater than that engaged upon the former. 

 This is a constant result in every such arrangement; and 

 appears to depend upon the physical and chemical properties 

 of the electrolyte; and to be entirely independent of the kind 

 of metal employed in the arrangement. 



When the two metallic surfaces are in this proportion, then 

 this diffusion upon the conducting surface, and the amount of 

 action obtained in the arrangement, are at their maximum ; 

 and when the conducting surface is made greater than this, 

 then a singular change takes place, not only in degree (which 

 is less), but also in the kind of action which results (see 

 section 9). 



I find that the direction in which this divergence takes place 

 is determined entirely by the position of the conducting sur- 

 face. This surface may^be obtained by aplate of metal placed 

 on one side of the generating point, or it may be so distri- 

 buted as to be placed over against two or more of its sides, or 

 it may be in the form of a holloxio cylinder or sphere, and be 

 distributed entirely around the generating point; but what- 

 ever may be its direction with relation to that point, or how- 

 soever distributed, the direction in which this divergence from 

 that point takes place is determined accordingly, and the 

 amount of action resulting exactly the same. 



172. These effects are rendered obvious when the genera- 

 ting point consists of a small solid sphere of zinc, and the 

 conducting surface, first of a flat plate of copper thirty-two 

 times larger and placed on one side; and then of an equal 

 extent of surface distributed as a hollow sphere entirely 

 around the zinc. By both is precisely the same amount of 

 action obtained. By making either the plate or the sphere 

 larger, we obtain no increase whatever of that amount ; but by 

 reducing the extent of surface either of the sphere or the plate 

 below this maximum size, then that amount is diminished in 

 proportion and by the same rate in both cases. 



173. But there are other influences affecting the distribu- 

 tion of the electricity when once generated in such arrange- 

 ments. Some facts detected by experiment lead me to con- 

 clude, that the direction which the electricity takes between 



