276 P^'f>f- Oersted on Electricity and Magnetism. [Oct. 



pole wiil be repelled either to the east or west, according to the 

 posilioii of the plane ol the legs. The eastmost leg being united 

 with the positive, and the westmost with the negative side of the 

 battery, the nearest pule will be attracted. When the plane of 

 the legs is placed perpendicular to the place between the pole 

 and the middle ot the needle, the same effiects recur, but 

 reversed. 



A brasi? needle, suspended like a magnetic needle, is not 

 moved by the efiect of the uniting wire. Likewise needles of 

 glass and of gum lac remain unacted on. 



We may now make a few observations towards explaining 

 -these plienomena. 



The electric conflict acts only on the magnetic particles of 

 •matter. All non-magnetic bodies appear penetrable by the 

 electric conliict, while magnetic bodies, or rather their magnetic 

 parncles, lesist the passage of this conflict. Hence they can be 

 moved by the impetus of the contending powers. 



It. is sufficiently evident from the preceding facts that the 

 ciecfric conflict is not confined to the conductor, but dispersed 

 pretty widely in the circumjacent space. 



From the precednig facts we may likewise collect that this 

 conflict perfoims circles; for without this condition, it seems 

 imp(.ssible that the one part of the uniting wire, when placed 

 beluvv the magnetic pole, should drive it towards the east, and 

 when placed above it towards the west; for it is the nature of a 

 circle that the motions in opposite parts should have an opposite 

 direction. Besides, a motion in circles, joined with a progres- 

 sive motion, according to the length of the conductor, ought to 

 form a conchoidal or spiral line ; but this, unless I am mistaken, 

 • contributes nothing to explain the phenomena hitherto observed. 

 All the effects on the north pole above-mentioned are easily 

 understood by supposing that negative electricity moves in a 

 spiral line bent towards the right, and propels the north pole, 

 but does not act on the south pole. I'he effects on the south 

 pole are explained in a similar manner, if we ascribe to positive 

 electricity a contrary motion and power of acting on the south 

 •pole, but not upon the north. The agreement of this law with 

 nature will be better seen by a repetition of the experiments than 

 by I; long explanation. The mode of judging of the experiments 

 will be much facilitated if the course of the electricities in the 

 uniting v. ire be pointed out by marks or figures. 



i ivht'Ii merely add to the above that I have demonstrated in a 

 book published five years ago that heat and light consist of the 

 contiict of the electricities. From the observations now stated, 

 v.'e may conclude that a circular motion likewise occurs in these 

 effects. This 1 think will contribute very much to illustrate the 

 phenomena to which the appellation of polarization of hght has 

 been given. 



Copenk»^fn, July 'il, 1S20. JoHN CHRISTIAN OeRSTED. 



