Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-09-24
NO CURRENT I'm MAGNETS.
5 < < < IN

The attractive and repulsive forces III
magnets are greatest at the end Of either
arm, and least in the middle Of all COM
mon magnets, where the polarity changes ;
because each magnetic atom has a
north and south pole, and as they 10 not
change their relative position to each other
throughout. magnets, they necessarily
present different poles at the end of either
arm. (See the above sketches.)
The fact that the magnetic atoms do not
change their relative position to each other
throughout magnets, whether straight or
curved, their attractive and repulsive
powers being independent and equal in
either arm, least in the middle of magnets,
and greatest at the end Of either arm, it
follows that the number of atoms in
either arm must be greater in long arms
than in those which are short, consequent
ly the powers to attract, ETC., will increase
with their length, as has been proved by
actual experiment in straight magnets
from two inches to three and a-half feet.
Experiments also show that magnetic
bar a foot long and one-fourth inch
square is equal in power to bar half an
inch square of the same length but the
power decreases as the thickness lessons,
evidently indicating that certain size or
surface is necessary for power as we'll rs
length.
When piece of iron of any size is placed
in contact with each arm of magnet, so
as not to touch each other, tho attraction
will be towards either arm from all parts
of the respective pieces, and there being
no connection between the arms a current
is impossible, yet tho power to attract is
perfect in either arm independent of con-
nection. To prove this, if each piece OF
iron he one-half the weight Of the magnets
power, and are completely separated by
wood or nOn-c conductors, the arms Of the
magnet wM raise and support the pieces
thus separated, as aoeU as If joined or FORM
ed one piece weighing as much as both
pieces. If the pieces of iron thus separated
were brought together they would, OF
course, mutually attract each other rs single
atoms of unlike polarity do, but there aeould
be no current established, but q mere attacA-
ment, nor would their coming together
increase the power of either or both arms
when joined. The inference, therefore, is
plain that the idea of current in magnets
is imaginary and cannot be sustained. The
repulsive force is equal to the attractive
for when particles Or portions arc mag
netically alike they repel each other, until
they become Or are rendered unlike, then
they attract each other as do opposite
electrical influences, all systems, suns,
planets and satellites in the universe, and
until these powers cease to exist the
revolution and perpetuity of our planet in
it orbit will bc steady and secure.
Electricity, like magnetism, is a single
identity, and currentless, until disturbed
Or evolved by chemical action or friction,
whether by human efforts or naturally, as
in the clouds then it is rendered evident
to our senses, but its natural tendency OF
disposition to equalize through conduc-
tors of some kind facilitates the rcstor;,-
ton of its equilibrium, when it again be-
comes latent and currentless.
LANCASTER, Pa, June, 1880.