The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-26

Science recognizes two kinds OF cleo
tricity; that which has to do with arti-
! fetal light and power. and static cleo
| tricity, which is at rest and seems to be
the blood of all substances.
All substances are not charged alike.
for some may be negatively charged
while others may be of the positive state.
When these two conditions come togeth-
er actual work is performed, as in the
case Of lightning. Both substances then
become saturated alike; that is, with
the same sign Of electricity. And, since
perfect equilibrium is brought about
between the two substances, II may be
said that they are both at rest or salts
fed. analogicaliy speaking. like two
buckets Of water OF unequal quantity
connected at their bottoms with a hose
having valve midway TO prevent the
water from seeking dead level In the
two buckets.
Space Between Is DieIectric.
The hose is the dieectric or space be-
tween the two bodies. The valve repre-
sents the breaking down OF the air. that,
when the valve Is opened, the water from
the bucket having the highest level
rushes through the hose into the bucket
containing the lesser amount, and con-
tinues so until after Oscillating back
ward and forward for some time, the
water finds a perfect level IN both
buckets. This oscillating backward and
forward Of the water represents the frlc-
ton which causes the lightning, or any
spark that you might cause 20 be made
hnfeVaar ftzT0 appocgfaisg OH ho1{os
This unbalanced state exists every
where, even the friends with whom you
shake hands VIII give or take in cleo
uieal quantity from you, for. at the
moment OF contact, an equilibrium must
come about between the two bodies as
in the case OF the water in the two
buckets finding its level The human
body not only carries a charge Of static
electricity, but it is capable Of holding
very high potential, and in relieving
itself of the charge very often produces
a. spark Of considerable violence.
How 20 Produce Spark.
a very excellent and convenient way
OF producing such state is 10 rub your
shoes across the carpet or rug on a cold
dry day; on touching some metallic sub
stance. especially the radiator or gas
fixture. you will be surprised 10 note
what a sharp, bright little spark will
jump from your finger.
II occurred TO me on one occasion that
this apparently harmless spark might
be the explanation of some mysterious
explosions which happen now and then
aboard war vessels. in power factories,
and in coal mines throughout the coun-
tries After repeated experiments, I am
tempted TO believe TO some degree, that
81 - L.
and under favorable circumstances,
have succeeded IN performing some inter-
esting experiments
Ignites Marsh Gas.
Marsh gas proved 10 be extremely
sensitive and exploded at a low poten-
tial; the spark, I am sure, was scarcely
visible. The most interesting experiment,
however, and one that might be i'm
proved upon. was the discovery that this
little spark possessed all the virtue OF
the Hertzian wave. Without any other
source OF transmission except the air. a
bell was caused TO ring some two squares
of, and could be repeated as often as the
spark was made A gunpowder mine
was easily set OF. and with a specially
devised condenser, dots and dashes were
sent without the least trouble.
But the human body is not alone in
producing this static discharge OF minia-
ture streak OF lightning. It is all one
and the same effect but OF different
potential, for all substances are charged
or saturated with one or the other sign
Of electricity.
Occurs in Nature.
Cane brakes, prairies, and great forests.
are often set sfire during dry spells by
this same little spark; the dry twtgs and
branches rub against each other until
the electrihcation becomes so intense by
the friction as 70 raise the klndling
temperatures of the wood In a general
confiagration
Even the celestial bodies are saturated
according TO their density, and long be-
fore they would come together II such
were pOssible-a tremendous streak OF
lightning would bridge the two bodies
as they approached TO within their po-
tential distances; as a result much OF
the smaller body would doubtIessly be-
vaporized before the awful cataclysm
would occur.
Knowledge of Electricity Recent.
The birth Of electricity may be traced
far back to remote ages, but its true
power and significance were not felt or
NAAACASNooQ Until 4iAOGSAAA tlAAiS6s Dul III
years ago.
Thale. a learned physicist and as
tronomer, who lived in 6H B. C, was
the first to electrify a body by rubbing a
piece of amber and TO cause a force
hitherto undecided 70 become known.
Although the Egyptians. Chaldeans.
and other nations of that period were
known to have had considerable knowl-
edge Of the phenomena of nature. no
record appears OF their having connected
the rubbed amber to lightning, which
they seemed TO have studied so assidr-
ously. With them the attractive or
magnetic power OF amber, when rubbed,
rose only 10 the height OF mere curiosity,
and, as 3 toy, they finally shelved IL;
until Gilbert, Hawkesbee, Volta, Frank
lin, and others took 1t down and
paved the way for the more practical
minds Of Edison. Tesla. Bell and others
Of our own date.