i88i.] The Source of Electric Energy, 515 • 
complete, and there is little heat production.* In poor con- 
ductors it is imperfeCt, and the excess polarisation of one 
molecule over the succeeding one becomes excess heat. 
One cell produces negative disturbances outwardly, the 
other positive. These are both distinct forms of energy, and 
in no proper sense is one an excess and the other a lack of 
energy, though they may have special differences in their 
vigour and mode of aCtion. But neutralisation takes place 
simultaneously in the two opposite directions around the 
circuit, the negative flow from one cell neutralising the out- 
ward positive in essentially the same manner as the positive 
flow from the other cell neutralises the outward negative. 
Probably when particles are torn off, and pass from pole to 
pole, it is in consequence of this opposite aCtion of energies. 
And the heat which appears in this case doubtless arises 
from excessive resistance. 
In the analogous case of contact between two oppositely 
charged static conductors the result is essentially as above. 
The positive energy of the one induces positive energy in the 
second ; the negative of the second induces negative in the 
first. We may therefore view the molecules of the two 
conductors as vibrating at three diverse rates — the normal 
heat vibration, and the two abnormal eleCtric vibrations, 
equidistant in pitch above and below the normal. It seems 
probable that these opposed efforts would combine to produce 
an intermediate normal vibration, the electricity being thus 
converted into heat. But in case either the positive or ne- 
gative be in excess of the other, it does not follow that the 
resultant vibration will be above or below the normal. For 
this normal vibration is forcibly regained by the molecule as 
soon as the disturbing influence is removed, and any excess 
of eledtric energy continues to exist as atomic vibration. 
Even if it affeCt all the atoms of the molecule alike, it exists 
as an energy in discord with the normal vibration of the 
molecule, which possesses simultaneously two diverse vibra- 
tions — one normal, the other abnormal ; one heat, the other 
electricity. 
The views here taken as to the intimate relations which 
exist between the molecules of contiguous surfaces are far 
from telling the whole story. Still more extended relations 
* In the case of the whole circuit being made up of good conductors the 
resistance might fall much below the polarising force. In this case only a 
small portion of the energy would appear as heat in the circuit, and the re- 
mainder must appear as heat at the point of chemical aCtion. Only a portion 
of the energy would be needed to overcome the resistance to polarisation, and 
only that portion could become heat in the circuit. 
