HANS CHRISTIAN OERSTED 213 



adequacy of the theory; while on the other hand, the discov- 

 eries of Oersted and Faraday afforded entirely new insight 

 into the peculiar nature of ether waves: they were shown 

 to be electro-magnetic in nature. 



HANS CHRISTIAN OERSTED 



1777-1851 



Oersted was the discoverer of the magnetic effects of electric 

 currents, and thus of the connection between electricity and 

 magnetism. For over a thousand years these two phe- 

 nomena of nature had been known and regarded as similar, 

 but nevertheless distinct, and without any relationship to 

 one another. Gray had recognised the non-interference be- 

 tween electrical and magnetic forces acting simultaneously on 

 the same bodies, and the conclusion that they were com- 

 pletely independent also remained after more refined obser- 

 vations had been made. Later, nevertheless, when mag- 

 netisation by means of electric sparks and lightning had been 

 observed, and Coulomb had discovered the laws of both 

 forces to be completely alike, the supposition of a hidden 

 connection reappeared again and again, and in this connection 

 was energetically sought for without success. 



When Volta's battery became known as a new source of 

 electricity, the attempt was repeated with its aid. Several 

 experiments were pubhshed, to show the presence of mag- 

 netic force in the pile, in elements in the cup form, or also 

 in the contact of two different metals. They were ob- 

 viously in part rendered worthless by mistakes; a serious 

 experiment for example was the following, to hang up a 

 Voltaic pile on a silk thread, so as to move horizontally, in 

 order to see whether it would set itself in the meridian like a 

 magnetic needle, which of course did not happen. Efforts 



