106 Prof. Norton on Molecular Physics. 



molecules, and that non-conductors may become imperfect con- 

 ductors if the tension of the charge presented to them be suffi- 

 cient. But it should not be overlooked that the amount of 

 polarization induced, and therefore of the resistance resulting 

 from it, must depend upon the condition of the interstitial elec- 

 tric aether (p. 101) and the distance between the molecules, 

 since the interval of time in which the repulsive impulses propa- 

 gated by the universal aether may come into action before the 

 electric aether impelled from the one molecule to the next shall 

 begin to take decided effect must depend upon these two parti- 

 culars. The quality of conduction or non-conduction of a sub- 

 stance should therefore depend to a certain degree upon the mode 

 of aggregation of the particles, more especially as different 

 groups of particles, or compound molecules (p. 99), may offer 

 different degrees of resistance. 



If an insulated metallic ball, a, be placed in good conducting 

 communication with the ground and afterward with the charged 

 prime conductor of an electrical machine, the electricity will flow 

 freely along the route thus opened, and, the tension of the aether 

 passing over a being very feeble, there will be no percep- 

 tible outward movement from a through the surrounding air, and 

 no sensible polarization of the particles of air ; but this will no 

 longer be the case if the charge be too large to be conducted off 

 with facility. The effect of connecting the prime conductor with 

 the ground when the machine is worked is to allow a free escape 

 to the aether, which would otherwise pass toward the first layer 

 of air-particles,- and displace an equal quantity from each layer 

 in succession and transfer it to the next. 



Electric Spark. — If we suppose the insulated metallic ball, a, 

 still connected with the prime conductor, to be placed near 

 another ball, b, which is in communication with the ground, on 

 working the machine the ball a, in receiving its charge, will 

 give rise to electric waves proceeding outward from it (p. 101), 

 and at the same time polarize the particles of the surrounding 

 air. As a consequence, a certain portion of the electric fluid on 

 the nearer side of b will be urged away and pass into the ground. 

 This side will thus be electrized negatively by induction, and 

 react upon the air-particles between the two balls, increasing 

 their polarization, and upon the nearer parts of «, drawing more 

 electricity to them. All these changes will be attended with in- 

 creasing wave movements and increasing discharges from one 

 particle of air to another along the line between the nearest 

 points of the balls. The electric aether in transitu between the 

 air-particles on this line may thus come to have sufficient density 

 to establish a certain degree of conducting communication between 

 the two bodies, and so to convey a sudden conductive discharge 



