458 OHM ON THE GALVANIC CIRCUIT. 



length /, and of the tension a, which is touched at any given 

 place whose abscissa is A, may be found for every other place. 



If any constant and perfect adduction, from outwards to the 

 galvanic circuit, were to be given instead of the permanent 

 abduction outwards, so that the electroscopic force pertaining 

 to the abscissa A were compelled to assume constantly a given 

 energy, which we will designate by a, Ave should obtain for the 

 determination of the constant c the equation 



a 



« = y A + C, 



and for the determination of the electroscopic force of the cir- 

 cuit at any other place the following : 



a , , 



M = -y- (^ — A) + «. 



We have seen how the constant c may be determined when 

 the electroscopic force is indicated at any place of the circuit by 

 external circumstances ; but now the question arises, what 

 value are we to ascribe to the constant when the circuit is left 

 entirely to itself, and this value can consequently no longer be 

 deduced from outward circumstances? The answer to this 

 question is found in the consideration, that each time both elec- 

 tricities proceed contemporaneously, and in like quantity from 

 a. previously indifferent state. It may, therefore, be asserted, 

 that a simple circuit of the present kind, which is formed in a 

 perfectly neutral and isolated condition, would assume on each 

 side of the place of contact an equal but opposite electric 

 condition, whence it is self-evident that their centre would be 

 indifferent. For the same reason, however, it is also apparent 

 that when the circuit at the moment of its origin is compelled 

 by any circumstance to deviate from this, its normal state, it 

 would certainly assume the abnormal one until again caused to 

 change. 



The properties of a simple galvanic circuit, such as we 

 have hitherto considered them to be, accordingly consist essen- 

 tially in the following, as is directly evident from the equa- 

 tion id) : 



a. The electroscopic force of such a circuit varies throughout 

 the whole length of the conductor continually, and on like 

 extents constantly to the same amount ; but where the two 

 extremities are in contact, it changes suddenly, and, indeed. 



