XXIX. An account of some experiments to measure the velocity of electricity and the duration of electric light

Abstract

The path of a luminous or an illuminated point in rapid motion, it is well known, appears as a continuous line, in consequence of the after duration of the visual im­pression. There is nothing, however, in the appearance of such a line by which the eye can determine either the direction or the velocity of the motion which generates it. It occurred to me some years since, that if the motion which described the line in these cases were to be compounded with another motion, the direction and velocity of which were known, it would be easy, from an inspection of the resultant straight or curved line, to determine the velocity and direction of the former. Following up this idea, I made a series of experiments relating to the oscillatory motions of sono­rous bodies, too numerous, and not sufficiently connected with the subject of the pre­sent communication, to be detailed in this place. The satisfactory results thus ob­tained made me desirous to ascertain whether, by similar means, some information might not be gained respecting the direction and velocity of the electric spark : the method by which I then proposed to effect this purpose was first announced in a lec­ture delivered by Dr. Faraday at the Royal Institution in June, 1830. My attention was again drawn to the subject at the commencement of last year, and I attempted to realize the idea in the following manner. Fig. 1 represents the apparatus employed, which was screwed at a to the spindle of a whirling machine, so that a rapid rotatory motion might be given to it. The upper and lower parts, which were all of brass except the wooden disc b c , were insulated from each other by a stout glass rod d e ; a slip of tinfoil connected the ball h with a , and the upper ball g was capable of adjustment to various distances from the lower one h . When the ball f was placed within striking distance of the prime conductor of an electric machine, a spark passed between them, and also between the balls g and h , which could be separated to the distance of four inches, so as to exhibit a spark of that length. It is obvious, that if the angular motion of the balls were in any sensible proportion to the velocity of electricity, there would be a deviation between the upper and lower terminations of the line. The instrument revolving from left to right, if the motion of the spark be downwards, the deflection of the line should be as in fig. 2; and if its motion be upwards, it should be deflected as in fig. 3.