The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-03-10
WHAT rs ELECTRICITY7
BY FORCE Balm.

reliable and accurate in their al
plication. 1t Is certain that til
phenomena attending the preser
manifestation of that peculia
power of nature known as electri
city are well organized and are in
mutable as in the other bette
known forces.
In studying this question, it
well to see what other person
have thought and written abou
it, and then we may be better pre-
paired to determine for ourselves
There is still some question of it
identity, so we are at liberty to &c
cept or reject the theories as the.
are presented.
In a work on electricity pub
lished in 1899 l find this definat
ion: ELECTRICITY, a natural agen
or power, generally called tho
electrict fluid, which, by friction
or other means, is excited aut
brought into action" This defin
alton would be considered very ap
and conservative for this day and
generation, Notwithstanding the
fact that nearly a centuary ha.
passed since it was written.
Perhaps the latest definatior
given to-day is: Electricity, the
name given to the unknown thing,
matter or force, or both, which is
the cause of electric phenomna.
Dufaye, SPINNER, and othe,
earlier scientists established the
hypothesis of two fluids.
They believed that there was
electricity of two opposite kinds,
positive and MIGHT'VE, each a sep
crate and distinct fluid in itself,
but that they were never found
sirgly and alone. The union of
equal quantities of the two fluids
constituted the neutral fluid, which
was supposed to exist in large
quantities in all unelectrifed bod
les. When body was electrified
it was supposed to gain an addi-
tional quantity of one fluid, and
lose an equal amount of the other,
SO that the total amount of elect
ric fluid in body was never
changed. This in brief is the
two fluid theory.
The one fluid theory was pro-
pounded by Franklin, and it is the
theory generally accepted for the
want of a better one to-day. 1t
the existence of one elect
ric fluid, which unelctrifed bodies
possess in a certain normal amount.
A positive electrified body has
more, and a negitive electrified
body has less, than its normal
amount. There are number of
complications in this theory which
Aepinus modified in order to agree
with the Newtonian theory of
yravitation, yet, with its faults, it
IS the one referred to by most of
the text books, and the only theory
now to explain the various mani
festations of electricity. We un-
Iuestlonably know more to-day
about the practical application of
electricity than any generation has
Known before us. The theory of
he science has not been as satIs-
'actory in its growth as has been
he knowledge of it, although we
Know more, certainly, what elect
'icity is to-day than we did twenty
7ears ago. Some things are be-
,ining to be known that were only
peculation a few years ago, and
I'D theories are being modified to
uit our greater knowledge, until
he books of our school days seem
Incompatible to the student of to-
lay.
Ihe most recent theory of elec-
ricity is that it is mode of ether.
n order 40 establish this theory it
S necessary to transfer the quest
on of the existance of ether from
peculative philosophy to that of
bsolute reality. There has been
s much doubt in regard to the ex-
stance of an all-pervading ether
8 there las been in regard to the
Instance or form of electriciticy, |
nd we are not yet prepared to ex-
ept this theory.
Heat was supposed at one time
D be form of matter, now it is
nown to be form of energy-or,
s Tyndall says, a mode of motion.
indeed, heat, light, electricity,
lagnetism and chemical affinity
ave all formerly been regarded
5 kinds of matter, ''imponderable
lements" they were called in con-
'adistinction to other ''mater-
Il elements" Each of these So
allied imonderable elements is en-
rgy manifested by different ef-
,cts. Heat may be transformed
ito electricity, which is another
'rm of producing q different eff
.ct, or the process may be re-
ersed: and electricity may be
'ansformed into heat. Again,
lechanical motion may be trans
'rmed into either or all-electri-
ty, heat, light, magnetism or
lemical effect-while a reverse
recess will convert heat, light,
ectricity. magnetism, and chem
al back into chemical motion.
7e have mechanical motion to
roduce electricity from our dyna-
%. We lead portion of this
ectricity to an incandescent
mp and produce heat. When
lie flament has received sufficient
Eat to bring it to point of in
lndescence, a portion of the heat,
. primarily electricity or motion,
transformed into light. This
ght may be used to electro-plate,
hich is also a chemical effect.
ur chemical bath becomes
orage battery, and if its poles
e connected directly to our dy-
mo, a portion of the energy ,