On the Action of Electricity^ in Voltaic Combinations. 28 1 



by a blow with a hammer, the neetHe will be deflected, or a 

 spark will appear at the points of 

 the wire, or if connected with the 

 human body a shock will be re- 

 ceived. It is obvious, therefore, 

 that the electricity in this circle, at 

 the moment of fracture, is in rapid 

 motion towards a perfectly new 

 state of stable equilibrium. From 

 this new state then the electricity 

 may be easily put in motion by an 

 inducing or reacting cause till it 



approach or finally gain the state oi tension which it had be- 

 fore the ring was broken. Hence from what is called a per- 

 manent magnet we may obtain as power/ill a shock and as 

 hi'illiant a spark as from a soft iron electro-magnet. If in the 

 common magneto-electric machine a continuous wire be coiled 

 round the ends of the permanent magnet, and a simple flat 

 lifter, without a coil, be made to revolve opposite the poles, an 

 exceedingly brilliant spark, and a shock too powerful to be 

 endured, may be easily produced. If the revolving keeper 

 have also a coil, by joining the ends to form a continuous coil 

 with that on the magnet the effect may be much increased. 



Instead of the revolving lifter of soft iron, another perma- 

 nent horseshoe magnet may be employed with equal or per- 

 haps greater advantage. The result of these arrangements 

 may form the subject of another short communication. 



LIX. On the Development and Action of Electricity in 

 Voltaic Combinations, By F. W. Muluns, Jli.P., F.S.S.-, 

 M.B.I., ^c. 



irjOES the development of a certain force or power of vol- 

 -*-^ taic electricit}', whether in the production ol] quantity or 

 intensity effects, depend upon the employment of '^ual sur- 

 faces of zinc and copper ? This question has been frequently 

 answered, by some in the affirmative, by others in the nega- 

 tive, but the prevailing opinion appears to be in favour of 

 equal quantities of the two metals ; and in the various forms 

 of batteries in general use we see such arrangements as give 

 equal metallic surfaces, or nearly so. It is therefore because 

 this point is still in dispute that I make my observations pub- 



• Communicated by the Author. 

 Third Series. Vol. 10. No. 61. April 1837. 2 O 



