Account of some Electrical Experiments. 165 



was exposed to a charge of eight grains only : it was dispersed 

 with nearly the same violence in one explosion. 



A cylinder of zinc of the same dimensions and under the same 

 arrangement, with a charge of 15 grains was slightly cracked at 

 the first explosion, and at the nintli explosion was opened hy a 

 wide rent, as shown in fig. 4. 



A similar cylinder of zinc was filled with olive oil instead of 

 water ; one explosion broke a large piece out and threw it to a 

 distance. This cylinder is represented in its present state by 



%-^- . 



A cylinder of tin of the same size filled with olive oil, was split 



open by one explosion of a charge of 15 grains; the rent being very 

 similar to that of fig. 4. 



A second cylinder of tin, the same size as the preceding, and 

 under the same arrangement, gave a different result : it was ex- 

 panded by the first explosion, and more so by the second and 

 third; at the fourth it burst open: the rent was more consider- 

 able than in the last experiment. 



A cylinder of iron of the same dimensions was arranged in 

 the usual manner with olive oil, and a charge of 15 grains: the 

 first explosion j)roduced two cracks nearly the whole length of 

 the cylinder; the second explosion detached a portion of the 

 cylinder (nearly one-third) in the direction of its length, and 

 threw it with violence to a distance. 



The experiment was repeated with another cylinder of iron 

 of the same size: the first explosion produced three cracks; the 

 second explosion divided the cylinder in three parts in a very 

 curious manner, as represented by fig. 6. 



The thickness of these cylinders is greate- than that of the 

 strongest muskets ; the expansive power of electricity acting in 

 this way is therefore vastly superior to the most potent gun- 

 powder. 



A cylinder of copper became undulated on tlic surface at the 

 first explosion; it expanded at the second, and continued to in- 

 crease with every discharge until the twelfth, when it v.'as burst 

 open nearly in the same manner as fig. 4. 



A second cylinder of copper exhibited nearly similar phaeno- 

 mena : it did not crack until the 14th explosion; but at the 

 15th it was torn vvitli a wide rent. 



A cylinder of l)rass, vmder similar circumstances, was undu- 

 lated on the surface, and had a small perforation at the first ex- 

 plosion : these effects and . he expansion of the cylinder con-r 

 tinned to increase with each discharge imtil the sixth, when a 

 wide rent was |)rodiiccd. 



Another cylinder of hrass, of the same description, exhibited 

 L 3 nearly 



