ON THE ELECTRIC COLUMN. gO 



by placing alternatelj^ its extremities in communication with 

 the ground; but by a wire, because the metallic c/miHir, A wire con- 

 commonly used for this purpose, do not transmit com- T^,^** b^'er 

 pletely such small quantities of electric Jluid, probably on 

 account of some dust getting between the links. The fol- 

 lowing are the two cases of this experiment. 



1. When the communication with the ground is made at Divergence of 

 B, the electroscope at the middle point C diverges posl- scope not^ 

 tiveli/, in the same degree as did before the electroscope at *he precise /a- 

 A ; and the divergence of the latter is now nearly double. \'°^^^ ^^^^'^' 

 I say nearly, because ec^al increases in the electric state 



produce smaller increases in the angular motion of the gold 

 leaves in proportion as the angle increases. By using then 

 the small insulated conductor, it is found, that the whole 

 column, (except the very extremity B, which, communicat- 

 ing with the ground, is neutraJj is in a positive state, in- 

 creasing towards A: which is expressed in Table II, 



2. When the communication with the ground is made at 

 A, ihe^-glectnc^ales of the column are all reversed. The elec- 

 troscope at the middle point C has now a negalke diverg- 

 ence, eaual to thai of the electroscope at B in the insulated 

 state of the colunan ; and the divergence at B is nearly 

 double. Then, hy observing the state of the other parts of 

 the column wjtn the insulated conductor, the negative state 

 IS found increasing toward B, from A, the only point not 

 negative, hut neutral. This is the case represented in 7a- 

 ble III. 



In the three different cases above described, the indi- Both states of 

 co-lecl positive and negative states are, in every part of the *^ '^^^ "'^' ^ 

 column, common to zinc and copper. There is no doubt, in both metals. 

 every binary association of the metals, that difference be- 

 tween them which their nature requires ; but it is insensible 

 in them individually, as it is when they are single; and 

 their ^/<?f/nc state, embracing both metals, is determined, 

 according to their position in the column, by the motions of 

 the electric fluid resulting from these insensible c/^ffi^nfA' ; 

 and that they follow the laws determined in my paper from 

 the cause assigned, is verified by these experiments; which 

 demonstrate at the same time, that there are no positive or 

 negative states belonging to any part of the cohimn (nor 



consequently 



