C 3<5* 3 
Preparation, 
Fix a taflel of 1 5 or 20 threads, 5 Inches long, at 
one end of a tin prime condudtor ; (mine is about 
f feet long, and 4 inches diameter), fupported by 
filk lines. 
Let the threads be a little damp, but not wet. 
Experiment I. 
Pafs an excited glafs tube near the other end of the 
f rime conduBor^ fo as to give it fome /parks ^ afid 
the threads will diverge. 
Becaufe each thread, as well as the prime conduc- 
tor, has acquired an elaftic atmofphere, which re- 
pels, and is repelled by, the atmofpheres of the other 
threads : if thofe feveral atmofpheres would readily 
mix, the threads might unite, and hang in the mid- 
dle of one atmofphere, common to them all. 
Rub the tube ofrefh^ and approach the prime conduBor 
therewith^ crofsways^ near that end, but nigh enough 
to give /parks', and the threads will diverge a little 
more. 
Becaufe the atmofphere of the prime conductor is 
preffed by the atmofphere of the excited tube, and 
driven towards the end where the threads are, by 
which each thread acquires more atmofphere. 
Withdraw the tube, and they will clo/e as much. 
They clofe as much, and no more, becaufe the 
atmofphere of the glafs tube, not having mix’d with 
the atmofphere of the prime conductor, is withdrawn 
intire. 
