intended to reduce the effects of Inductive Action. 841 



5th. If a given charge he distributed over conducting sur- 

 faces bearing the several relations of 1, 2, 3, 4, the thermome- 

 tric effect will be unaltered, but the respective tensions or length 

 of spai'k will be in the simple inverse ratio of the surfaces, viz. 

 1, ^, -y, \, whilst the intensities or attractive power will be in- 

 versely as the squares of the surfaces, viz. 1, \, A, — ■. 



6th. The attractive or inductive influence acting between any 

 two electrified surfaces, is, with the same charge, inversely as 

 the squai'es of the distances between which it operates. An in- 

 sulated scale-pan placed over a charged conductor at the several 

 relative distances 1, 2, 3, 4, will be balanced by different weights, 

 these being in the inverse ratio of the squares of the distances. 



7th. The capacity of a conductor to receive electric charge 

 will depend upon the amount of induction which can take place 

 between it and a vicinal conductor ; and the nearer these can be 

 brought together, one being uninsulated and the other insulated, 

 the greater will be the amount of charge. 



Now, as there can be no doubt that it is the dielectric in con- 

 tact with the conductors which receives the charge, the conductors 

 serving only to distribute or collect it, we may in the preceding 

 law lose sight of the conductors beyond this function, and merely 

 consider that the dielectric has its capacity for receiving charge in- 

 creased by diminishing its thickness. The following then appear 

 to be some inferences to be deduced from the action of these laws. 



1st. Since resistance in wires requires the employment of 

 intensity in currents to overcome it, it follows that the greater 

 the intensity of the current, that is to say, the greater the 

 amount of free statical electricity accompanying the dynamic 

 current, the greater will be the tendency to charge the dielectric. 

 Now any increase of charge on the dielectric will produce re- 

 sults in discharge as the squares of the quantities thus taken up. 

 Upon this principle I propose to use a capacious conductor, which 

 shall diminish resistance as much as possible, and thereby reduce 

 correspondingly the intensity of the current requisite to work 

 through it, and its tendency to charge the dielectric. 



2nd. Since the quantity of chai'ge which can be taken up by 

 any dielectric will depend upon its thinness, or the contiguity 

 of the conducting surfaces between which it is included, I pro- 

 ))()se to increase the thickness of the dielectric or insulating 

 coating, and thereby not only still further reduce its tendency 

 to charge, but increase its insulating faculty. There are, how- 

 ever, other conditions which interfere still more with the results 

 of discharges from coated surfaces which have been hitherto 

 overlooked, but which may nevertheless render essential service 

 in their judicious application to the insulation of a submarine 

 conductor. 



