In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was bent into a U-shape, with a single plate of zinc placed in the center of the bent copper. The zinc plate was prevented from making contact with the copper by dowels (pieces) of cork or wood. In his single cell design, the U-shaped copper plate was welded to a horizontal handle for lifting the copper and zinc plates out out the electrolyte when the battery was not in use.

Wallaston's Battery

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was…

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was bent into a U-shape, with a single plate of zinc placed in the center of the bent copper. The zinc plate was prevented from making contact with the copper by dowels (pieces) of cork or wood. In his single cell design, the U-shaped copper plate was welded to a horizontal handle for lifting the copper and zinc plates out out the electrolyte when the battery was not in use.

Wallaston's Battery

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was…

An illustration of the Smee cell.

Smee Cell

An illustration of the Smee cell.

The System of Arc Lights is a device used to obtain electric light by conducting a current of electricity through a resisting medium, as a gas or a carbon wire.

System of Arc Lights

The System of Arc Lights is a device used to obtain electric light by conducting a current of electricity…

The System of Incandescent Lights is a device in which electric light is obtained by conducting a current of electricity through a resisting medium, as a gas or a carbon wire.

System of Incandescent Lights

The System of Incandescent Lights is a device in which electric light is obtained by conducting a current…

"In the gold-leaf electroscope (invented by Bennet in 1787), two light strips of gold-leaf hang from the lower end of a metal rod, which passes vertically through an opening in the top of a glass bottle and expands above into a plate. If a piece of rubbed sealing-wax or other electrified body be brought near the plate, the gold leaves will repel each other and diverge ... A cylinder of wire gauze placed just inside the glass case, improves the action of the instrument." -Hazeltine, 1894

Gold Leaf Electroscope

"In the gold-leaf electroscope (invented by Bennet in 1787), two light strips of gold-leaf hang from…

Conductor for electricity.

Simple Electroscope

Conductor for electricity.

"This apparatus shows the rotation at once of a magnet and of a movable conductor. The rotating pieces are the magnet sn, which is tied to the copper peg at the bottom of G by means of a piece of string, and swims round the vertical current buoyed up by the mercury in G, and the wire DE, which is hinged to D by a thin flexible wire, and swims round the pole of the vertical magnet n's'." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Faraday Apparatus

"This apparatus shows the rotation at once of a magnet and of a movable conductor. The rotating pieces…

"Faraday's ice pail experiment. An ice pail P connected with gold leaves of an electroscope C, is placed on an insulating stand S. A charged conductor K, carried by a silk thread, is lowered into the pail, and finally touches it at the bottom. While it is being lowered the leaves of the electroscope diverge farther and farther, until K is well within the pail, after which they diverge no more, even when K touches the pail or is afterwards withdrawn by the insulation thread. After withdrawal, K is found to be completely discharged." -Hawkins, 1917

Faraday's Ice Pail Experiment

"Faraday's ice pail experiment. An ice pail P connected with gold leaves of an electroscope C, is placed…

"Around a vertical conductor carrying a heavy current, place a peice of paper and sprinkle iron filling on the paper. Notice that the iron particles arrange themselves in distinct circular whirls around the wire, as shown." -Avery 1895

Magnetic Field Due to Current

"Around a vertical conductor carrying a heavy current, place a peice of paper and sprinkle iron filling…

One of the sets of vertical cords or wires in a loom, forming the principal part of the harness that guides the warp threads.

Wire Heddle

One of the sets of vertical cords or wires in a loom, forming the principal part of the harness that…

"Nichols Rheostat. a, wooden frame; b, tinned iron strip; c, stationary, and c', movable binding-posts; d, copper strip for short-circuiting." -Whitney, 1911

Rheostat

"Nichols Rheostat. a, wooden frame; b, tinned iron strip; c, stationary, and c', movable binding-posts;…

"Right hand rule to determine the direction of magnetic field around a conductor carrying a current. The thumb of the right hand is placed along the conductor, pointing in the direction in which the current is flowing, then...the finger tips will point in the direction of the magnetic whirls." -Hawkins, 1917

Right Hang Rule

"Right hand rule to determine the direction of magnetic field around a conductor carrying a current.…

"A shunt, in electricity, is a conductor placed between two points in closed circuit, to divert or shunt part of the current."—Finley, 1917

Shunt

"A shunt, in electricity, is a conductor placed between two points in closed circuit, to divert or shunt…

A spark arrestor is a device intended to prevent combustible materials, usually sparks or other tiny flaming debris, from escaping into areas where they might start fires. They are most commonly used in conjunction with motor vehicles, as well as improving safety within fireplaces, and various electrical equipment.

A Conductor Featuring a Spark Arrestor

A spark arrestor is a device intended to prevent combustible materials, usually sparks or other tiny…

Thomas was a famous musician and conductor.

Theodore Thomas

Thomas was a famous musician and conductor.

The Wimshurst Machine is an electrostatic device to generate high voltages. "It consists of two circular glass plates, mounted on a common spindle, and capable of rotation in opposite directions with equal speeds. Each plate carries twelve or sixteen strips of thin sheet-metal, fixed radially at regular intervals apart ... At the extremities of the horizontal diameter of the plates the main conductors are placed, insulated on glass or vulcanite pillars." -Hazeltine, 1894

Wimshurst Machine

The Wimshurst Machine is an electrostatic device to generate high voltages. "It consists of two circular…

A cartoon of a woman talking to a train conductor, with a pile of packages at her feet.

Woman and Train Conductor

A cartoon of a woman talking to a train conductor, with a pile of packages at her feet.