320 EXPERIMENTS upon MAGNETISM. 



pole of all thole attraded by the other magnet ; they 

 repel each other, of confequence ; a vacuity is obferved 

 between the rel'pedtive parcels of filings ; whilil: the ap- 

 pearance of reverted curves is exhibited, on account of 

 the repulfion which their fimilar poles exert upon each 

 other. 



Thus, befides the proof which thefe experiments afford, 

 that the attradive force of the magnets, at either pole, is 

 the real caufe of the phenomena which the filings exhibit ; 

 they prove alfo, in the moft fatisfacftory manner, that the 

 adlion of the magnet upon the filings, when they ap- 

 proach within a certain diftance, renders them magnetic, 

 and hence produces the effects mentioned in the two laft 

 experiments. But, in every inftance, attraction firft ope- 

 rates. Similar poles, whilft they are repulfive of each 

 other, are flill attradlive of all other fubftances upon which 

 the magnet a(fts. The fame body, at the fame time, ap- 

 pears to exert two oppofite powers. 



The caufe of magnetic attraction and repulfion, as 

 well as of all other attradions or repulfions, lies ftill hid 

 in the receffes of nature ; but the manner, in which thefe 

 forces produce certain phenomena, is no longer concealed 

 from us. 



Thefe experiments may be agreeably varied by placing 

 three or four magnets upon each other, then covering 

 them only partially, and fprinkling the filings on each 

 fide of them. 



In every magnet, there is at leaft one line, called the 

 equator, where the attractive power vanifhes : from this line, 

 towards either pole, it gradually increafes, and hence thofe 

 filings which are near to the fides of the magnet, will 

 incline towards them, forming angles, which appear to 

 be fuch as the refolution of two forces, one lateral, the 

 other polar, would neceffarily produce. 



Perhaps 



