III. On the connexion between electric current and the electric and magnetic inductions in the surrounding field

Abstract

This paper describes a hypothesis as to the connexion between current in conductors and the transfer of electric and magnetic inductions in the surrounding field. The hypothesis is suggested by the mode of transfer of energy in the electromagnetic field, resulting from Maxwell’s equations investigated in a former paper (“Phil. Trans.,” vol. 175, pp. 343—361, 1884). It was there shown that according to Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory the energy which is dissipated in the circuit is transferred through the medium, always moving perpendicularly to the plane containing the lines of electric and magnetic intensity, and that it comes into the conductor from the surrounding insulator, not flowing along the wire.