96 Prof. Faraday on some Points of Magnetic Philosophy. 



3325. Let us consider a hard invariable magnet in space, 

 fig. 4. If a piece of soft iron, I, be 



brought towards it, the N end of the Fi S- 4. 



magnet will cause southness in the 



near end of the iron and northness in ^ // //yy//7 *^ y////A 

 the further end, and this will continue s n 



until the iron is removed, the south- 

 ness and northness at the two ends or halves of the magnet 

 having remained all the time unchanged in their equality and 

 amount (3223. 3221.). Now to say that the force emanating 

 from N could act on the iron, producing like and the contrary 

 force, and then, by removal of the iron, cease to act there or 

 elsewhere; and then again act on the iron if approached, or any- 

 thing else, and then cease to act, and so on ; would in my mind 

 be to deny the conservation of force : — and we know that there is 

 no equivalent action within the magnet, to explain by any alter- 

 nate excitement and suppression of the dual parts, any sup- 

 posed appearance and disappearance of the powers at the differ- 

 ent times ; for a helix closely applied round the middle part of 

 the magnet during the experiment gives no current, and by that 

 shows that there is no equivalent internal derangement of the 

 power, when the outer exercise of it may be supposed to change 

 between active and inert. 



3326. Suppose the power of such a magnet to be due to 

 magnetic N and S fluids; can it be thought that the N parti- 

 cles can be sometimes exerting their attraction for S particles, 

 and sometimes not ? Would not that be equivalent to the 

 assumption of a suppression, i. e. a destruction of force ? — which 

 surely cannot be. Such an assumption could be surpassed only 

 by that which supposes that the N fluid might sometimes at- 

 tract S and repel N, and at other times repel S and attract N 

 fluids (3311. 3312. 3317.). 



3327. As to the soft iron under induction (3325.), its dual 

 magnetic forces do re-enter into their former mutually depend- 

 ent and mutually satisfying state : but suppose it to be replaced 

 by steel, and that the magnetisms produced in it do not recom- 

 bine or disappear on the removal of the dominant magnet, then 

 on what is their power ultimately turned, if not on each other ? 

 (3257. 3324.) Where is the S power of the steel disposed of 

 when it is separated from its relation with the N power of the 

 magnet that evolved it ? The case cannot be met except by 

 affirming the independent existence of the two powers (3329.) ; 

 or, admitting the suppression of force, and of either of these forces 

 the one without the other (3330.) ; or allowing the mutual de- 

 pendence of the two polarities of the magnet (3331.). 



3328. When the N pole of a magnet (fig. 5) is acting in 





