OHM OX THE GALVANIC CIRCUIT. 42^ 



7J A 



nV 



while in the simple closed circuit it is 



A 



L' 

 If we now introduce into the simple circuit, as well as into the 

 pile, one and the same new part A of the reduced length, upon 

 which the curi'ent is to act, the magnitude of the current thus 

 altered in the simple circuit will be 



A 



L + A' 



and in the voltaic pile 



w A 



T ^T? or 

 n L + A' 



It is hence evident that the current is constanthj greater in a 

 i^oltaic pile than in the simple circuit, but it is merely imper- 

 ceptibly greater so long as A is very small in comparison with L ; 

 on the contrary, this increase approximates the nearer to n times, 

 the greater A becomes to n L, and consequently the more so in 

 comparison with L. Besides this mode of increasing the mag- 

 nitude of the galvanic current, there is a second one, which con- 

 sists in shortening the reduced lengths of the simple circuit, 

 which may be effected by increasing its section, or placing seve- 

 ral simple circuits by the side of each other, and connecting them 

 in such a way that together they only form one single simple 

 circuit. If we now retain the same signs, so that 



A 



L + A 



again denotes the magnitude of the current in one element, 



then, in the above-mentioned combination of n elements into a 



siugle circuit, the magnitude of the current is evidently 



A nk. 



L 7' °'* L + nA' 

 — + A 

 n 



which indicates a slight increase in the action of the new combi- 

 nation when A is very great in comparison with L ; on the con- 

 trary, a very pov) erf ul one when A is very small in comparison loith 



^ , and consequently the more so in comparison with L. It hence 



