Prof. Faraday on some Points of Magnetic Philosophy. 99 



shows the difference when the iron or magnet is polar outwards 

 and when its state has fallen. No such effects happen with a 

 hard magnet, when it is alternately left to itself or put in rela- 

 tion to external poles of other magnets. The body of the mag- 

 net, and the forces passing through it, remain unchanged, 

 whether examined by the loop (3223.) or by its own motion, 

 and that of discs or wires associated with it (3116. &c). Its 

 force ever remains the same in quantity and general direction. 



3334. The case of the steel ring magnet (3283.) is well 

 known, and the manner in which such a magnet, showing no 

 external relation, developes strong poles when it is broken. The 

 phenomena assure us, I think, that when broken the northness 

 and southness then appearing, cannot, when the pieces are by 

 themselves, be determined upon each other backward through 

 the magnet ; there is no sufficient reason to suppose such a 

 thing. And, again, the mutual destruction of highly-charged 

 linear magnets, such as steel needles, when many of them are 

 made into a thick, short bundle, shows the same thing ; for if 

 when alone the polar powers are not external, but are deter- 

 mined upon each other through each individual magnet, they 

 are as free for a like disposal when the elementary magnets are 

 associated as when they are separated : — and then there remains 

 no sufficient reason to expect a dominant action over each other 

 superior to that which each has over itself. 



3335. It is not to be supposed that the change of force which 

 occurs when the magnet first acting externally is then made to 

 act internally or through itself, would be small and unnoticeable. 

 It should be as great as the whole amount of power which the 

 magnet can show under the most favourable circumstance ; and 

 the means are abundantly sufficient, by moving wires and discs, 

 to make that evident in any case which might imply its passing 

 through, or being removed out of, the magnet : — so that no 

 difficulty can occur in that respect, and there remains, therefore, 

 in my mind, but two suppositions ; either the N polar force of 

 a magnet when taken off from external compensating S polar 

 force, is not exerted elsewhere as magnetic force at all ; or else 

 it is externally thrown upon and associated with the S polar 

 force of the same magnet, and so sustained and disposed of, for 

 the time, in its natural equivalent and essential state. If con- 

 verted into any new form of power, what is that form ? where 

 is it disposed of? by what effects is it recognized ? what are 

 the proofs of its existence ? To these inquiries there are no 

 answers. But if it be directed externally upon the opposite S 

 pole of the magnet, then all the consequences and foundations 

 of my hypotheses of magnetic force and its polarity come forth ; 

 and, as I incline to believe, a consistent and satisfactory account 



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