OIIM ON THE GALVANIC CIRCUIT. 481 



simple circuits, merits peculiar attention in this place, from the 

 numerous and varied experimental results obtained by its 

 means. 



If A represent the sum of the tensions of a closed galvanic 

 circuit, and L its reduced length, the magnitude of its current 

 is, as we have found, 



A 

 L* 

 Now, if we imagine n such circuits perfectly similar to the 

 former, but open, and constantly bring the end of each one in 

 direct connexion with the commencement of the next following 

 one, in such a manner that between each two circuits no new 

 tension occurs, and all the previous tensions remain afterwards 

 as before, then the magnitude of the current of this voltaic com- 

 bination, closed in itself, is evidently 



« A 



consequently equal to that in the simple circuit. This equality 

 of the circuit, howevei', no longer exists when a new conductor, 

 which we will call the interposed conductor, is inserted in both. 

 If, namely, we designate the reduced length of this interposed 

 conductor by A, then, when no new tension is produced by it, 

 the magnitude of the current in the simple circuit will be 



A 

 L + A' 

 and in the voltaic combination, consisting of n, such elements 

 « A A 



nL + A T , A' 



n 

 therefore in the latter circuit it is constantly greater than in 

 the former, and, in fact, a gradual transition takes place from 

 equality of action, which is evinced when A disappears, to where 

 the voltaic combination exceeds n times the action of the simple 

 circuit, which case occurs when A is incomparably greater than 

 n L. If by A we represent the relative length of the body upon 

 which the circuit is to act by the force of its current, then from 

 the observations just brought forward it results that it is most 

 advantageous to employ a powerful simple circuit when A is 

 very small in comparison to L ; and, on the contrary, the voltaic 

 pile, when A is very great in comparison with L. 



