268 Researches in the Theory and Calculus of Operations, 



The phenomena of motion and heat have been produced 

 by the application of a single forcible impulsion or the con- 

 tinued repetition of feebler ones, one or the other phenome- 

 non according as the body acted upon is in a movable or 

 fixed condition. A gentle and renewed pressure in the form 

 of friction, applied to a body fixed and isolated, evolves a 

 correlative phenomenon in the form of ele.ctric force. The 

 frictional impulse is too weak to start vibratory motion of 

 the material particles immediately, as do the more forcible 

 impulses resorted to for the production of heat by the first 

 intention ; but when the electrical machine is put in motion, 

 the rubber passes swiftly across the superficial atoms of the 

 electric, so that each individual atom is alternately pressed 

 and relieved. Every such atom was previously equilibrated 

 by its fellow atom on the opposite side of the electric, each 

 pulling equally from the centre; but is at this instant de- 

 ranged and equilibrated by the frictioniziug atom, leaving 

 its corresponding atom at large upon the opposite surface. 

 It is a semiatomic force, the right half of an atom on the 

 righthand surface of the electric, that is destroyed by the 

 rubber, and the disturbed tension is propagated to the 

 lefthand side of the electric, liberating there the left half 

 of an atom, a semiatomic force of opposite direction. Similar 

 occurrences take place in the rubber, with corresponding 

 reversed directions of semiatomic forces. The destroyed 

 force, amounting together to one atom, is immediately re- 

 placed by the immanent powers of the two members of the 

 machine, the atomic rebound from both sides ensues simul- 

 taneously, and equilibrium is restored in the system. This 

 occurs during the time of relief of the first atom considered, 

 and all is now ready for the second step of the rubber. In 

 this way, if the rubber as well as electric is isolated^alter- 

 nate disturbance and equilibrium will recur, and no accu- 

 mulation be obtained of the liberated semiatomic forces. 

 These are the positive* and negative electricities : they act 



