The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-02-02
TWO MOTIVE FORCES.

Ana1ogies Existing Between Elec.
trio and Hydraulic Action.
There is not such a thing as sound,
light, heat, magnetism or electricity.
These are all manifestations of energy,
which we are in the habit Of calling so.
All have the same origin and are
caused by matter vibrating at different
rates Of speed. The atom, that utter
ior form Of the universal structure is
in a perpetual state Of agitation, a play
to external influences like q boat on a
stormy sea.
We can pass from one mode of VI
bratton to smother; we can obtain heat
and light from electricity; we can
change light into electricity; we can
convert into electricity the mechanical
energy. Could this be so if heat, light,
and electricity were existing in nature
as different entities? This uniformity
in the process Of nature renders it pos
sible to establish certain comparisons
between electric and hydraulic forces,
and thus facilitate the comprehension
Of electric phenoma about the real ma
ture Of which we know so very little
In electricity the laws governing the
flow Of current through a circuit, and
proportioning the expenditure Of energy
to the work done by the current, are
nearly the same as in hydrau1ics-the
electric current flowing through a cir
cult is proportional to the resistance,
that is, directly proportional to the Sec
ton for a current having a given
length.
Although electric motors differ wide
~ i'll tthei: construction and mode of
action from water motors, there is at
least one kind Of electric motor work
ing exactly like reaction turbine. 1t
is made of four metallic arms, form
ing cross mounted on delicate piv-
ot.N Electrieis escaping in the air BY.
the points reacts against the charge
repartited on the arms, repels it, and
the fywheel rotates by reaction like
a water wheel.
When a valve in a water pipe is
open the speed of the water fowipA
through the pipe increases until it
reaches a maximum, but when the
valve is suddenly closed the pipe is
generally shaken, and in some cases
the impetus is such as to burst the
pipe. The energy absorbed for start
ing the flow Of water appears when
the flow is stopped. The water ram
is based on that principle. When a
current of electricity is sent through
a circuit the current does not reach it's
maximum strength as soon as the cir
cult is closed. but when the circuit is
broken the energy absorbed in start
ing reappears in the form of violent
discharge, called extra current.
A very curious analogy between elec-
trio and hydraulic forces can also be
found in the disruptive discharge Of a
condenser. Imagine a tank with a
wide opening at the bottom, which is
kept close by spring pressure so that
it snaps off suddenly when the liquid
reaches certain height. When the
liquid reaches critical height the bot
tom of the tank drops out, the spring
reasserts itself, closes the bottom
and the process is repeated. That is
what happens when a condenser is
discharged disruptively. I do not
mean to say that electricity flows
through conductor the same as water
flows through a pipe. The electric
current is immaterial; in fact there is
no such thing as an electric current
But whatever be the real nature Of
electricity its laws are pretty well
known, and believe, that by compar-
ing hydraulic forces with electric