412 Dr. Faraday on the Physical Character of 



elongate itself; and, so far, that may be considered as marking 

 a character of the electric axis of power. When a free magnetic 

 needle near the end of a bar-magnet first points and then tends 

 to approach it, I see in the action a character of the contrary 

 kind in the magnetic axis of power ; for the lines of magnetic 

 force, which, according to my recent researches, are common to 

 the magnet and the needle (3230.), are shortened, first by the 

 motion of the needle when it points, and again by the action 

 which causes the needle to approach the magnet. I think I 

 may say, that all the other actions of a magnet upon magnets, 

 or soft iron, or other paramagnetic and diamagnetic bodies, are 

 in harmony with the same effect and conclusions. 



3267. Again : — like electric currents, or lines of force, or 

 axes of power, when placed side by side, attract each other. 

 This is well known and well seen, when wires carrying such cur- 

 rents are placed parallel to each other. But like magnetic axes 

 of power or lines of force repel each other : the parallel case to 

 that of the electric currents is given, by placing two magnetic 

 needles side by side with like poles in the same direction ; and 

 by the use of iron filings, numerous pictorial representations 

 (3234.) of the same general result may be obtained. 



3268. Now these effects are not merely contrasts continued 

 through two or more different relations, but they are contrasts 

 which coincide when the positiou of the two axes of power at right 

 angles to each other are considered (1659. 3265.). The tendency 

 to elongate in the electric current, and the tendency to lateral 

 separation of the magnetic lines of force which surround that 

 current, are both tendencies in the same direction, though they 

 seem like contrasts, when the two axes are considered out of 

 their relation of mutual position; and this, with other consi- 

 derations to be immediately referred to, probably points to the 

 intimate physical i-elation, and it may be, to the oneness of con- 

 dition of that which is apparently two powers or forms of power, 

 electric and magnetic. In that case many other relations, of 

 which the following are some forms, will merge in the same 

 result. Thus, unlike magnetic lines, when end on, repel each 

 other, as when similar poles are face to face ; and unlike electric 

 currents, if placed in the same relation, stop each other ; or if 

 raised in intensity, when thus made static, repel each other. 

 Like electric currents or lines of force, when end on to each 

 other, coalesce ; like magnetic lines of force similarly placed do 

 so too (3266. 3295.). Like electric currents, end to end, do not 

 add their sums ; but whilst there is no change in quantity, the 

 intensity is increased. Like magnetic lines of force similarly 

 placed do not increase each other, for the power then also re- 

 mains the same (3218.) : perhaps some effect correspondent to 



