1882.] 



On Liquid Jets. 



141 



between the two points of resolution so as not to produce the effect, 

 confirming the view that the action is differential. 



At a somewhat higher angle of collision amalgamation will usually 

 occur without the aid of electricity, but the fact may easily escape 

 recognition when intermittent vision is not employed. The streams 

 do not usually join into one, as we might perhaps expect, but appear 

 to pass through one another, much as if no union of drops had 

 occurred. With the aid of the revolving disk the course of things is 

 rendered evident. The separating layer is indeed ruptured at con- 

 tact, and for a short time the drops move as one mass. There is, 

 however, in general, considerable outstanding relative velocity, which 

 is sufficient to bring about an ultimate separation, preceded by the 

 formation of a ligament (fig. 5). In certain cases, although after 



contact a ligament is formed, the relative velocity is insufficient to 

 overcome its tension, and the drops draw again together and ulti- 

 mately cohere. If the impact is very direct, so that the relative 

 velocity is almost entirely in the line of centres, the drops may flatten 

 against one another and become united without the formation of a 

 ligament. 



In order to determine how small a difference of potential would 

 be effective in causing the coalescence of streams of drops meeting at 

 a small angle, the two places of resolution were enclosed in inductor- 

 tubes, between which with the aid of a battery a difference of 

 potential could be established. The arrangement is shown in fig. 6. 

 One of the inductors is placed in connexion with the earth, with 

 the reservoir from which the water comes, and with one pole of the 

 battery. By operating a key, the other inductor may be placed at 

 pleasure in communication with the first inductor, or with the other 

 pole of the battery. In the first case the battery is out of use, and in 

 the second the difference of potential due to the battery is established 

 between the two inductors. 



