2>^^ ON ELECTRICAL CHARGES AND DISCHARGES. 



joined together by those faces that have opposite electrici- 

 ties, and discharged in this state as we have already said. 

 This proves, that in the connbination of two insulating 

 plates, thus forming but one body, each of the plates take* 

 its own charge; that it to say, there is formed on the lower 

 face of the upper plate an electricity opposite to that com- 

 municated to its upper face; that in like manner an electri- 

 city is formed on tlie upper face of the lower plate of the 

 same kind as that communicated to the upper plate; and 

 lastly on the lower surface of the lower plate an electricity 

 opposite to this: and thus the lastmentioned electricity does 

 not correspond directly to the opposite electricity of the up- 

 per face of the iipper plate, but depends on it only through 

 the medium of the intervening electricities of the two inte- 

 rior faces that are in contact. In fact, since the two plates 

 when separated after their discharge exhibit the same elec- 

 tricities, whether they be charged together or separately, 

 they must be in the same state after the discharge in both 

 cases: but this supposes likewise the same modification in 

 the charged state, since the discharge is made precisely in 

 the same manner, and with the same phenomena, in both 

 Th^ same with Cases. It is unquestionably the same, when more than two 

 any number of plates are thus combined; each of them must undergo the 

 p.ateb. same modification as if it had been charged separately, for 



the number makes no difference here. 

 One solid plate Now as any compact plate may be conceived to be divided 

 fheietorc may -^^^^^ ^g manv strata as there are elementar\' molecules iiv its 



be considered - • i i i i , 



xs a number of thickness, all these strata must be considered, when the plate 

 infinitely thin jg charged, as having each its particular charge, so that the 

 face of one, which is charged with either kind of electricity, 

 is successively in contact with that of another, which is 

 charged with the opposite electricity : for as to the effect in 

 question it can tnake no difference, whether the strata be 

 simply in contact or adhere together, since in both cases 

 they form but one continuous substance. 



The following is the idea therefore that facts have led us 

 lal priucipie. to form of every insulating stratum charged with electricity, 

 or, whicb comes to the same thing, taken between two op- 

 posite electricities: It ought to be conceived of as formed 

 of an intiaite number of strata, all which, however thin they 



are. 



«ues. 



TJ^?s the gene- 



