Restoration of Original Resistance.—The conductivity causes by the various electrical influences lasts sometimes for a long period (24 hours or more), but it is always possible to make it rapidly disappear, particularly by a shock.
The majority of substances tested showed an increase of resistance on being shaken previous to being submitted to any special electrical influence, but after having been influenced the effect of shock is much more marked. The phenomenon is best seen with the metallic filings, but it can also be observed with metalised ebonite sheets with mixtures of liquid insulators and metallic powders, mixtures of metallic filings and insulating substances (compressed or not compressed), and finally with solid bodies.
I observed the return to original resistance in the following manner:—The sensitive substance was placed at K ([Fig. 53]), and formed part of a circuit which included a Daniell cell and galvanometer. At first no current passes. Sparks are then caused at S, and the needle of the galvanometer is permanently deflected. On smartly tapping the table supporting the ebonite cap in which the sensitive substance is contained, the original condition is completely restored. When the electric action has been of a powerful character, violent blows are necessary. I employed for the purpose of these shocks a hammer fixed on the table, the blows of which could be regulated.
With some substances, when feebly electrified, the return seemed to be spontaneous, although it was slower than the return of the galvanometer needle to equilibrium. This restoration of the original resistance is attributable to surrounding trepidations, as it was only necessary to walk about the room at a distance of a few metres, or to shake a distant wall. This spontaneous return to original resistance after weak electrical action was visible with a mixture of equal parts of fine selenium and tellurium powders. The restoration of resistance by shock was not observable so long as the electrical influence was at work.
After having been submitted to powerful electric action, shock does not seem to entirely restore substances to their original state, in fact, the substances generally show greater sensitiveness to electric action. Thus, a mixture of colza oil and antimony powder being exposed to the influence of arrangement A, a spark of 5 mm. was at first necessary to break down the resistance, but after the conductivity had been made to disappear by means of blows, a spark of only 1 mm. was sufficient to again render the substance conducting. Finely powdered aluminium has an extremely high resistance. A vertical column of powdered aluminium 5 mm. long of 4 sq. cms. cross-section, submitted to considerable pressure, completely stopped the current from a Daniell cell. The influence of arrangement A produced no effect, but, by direct contact with a Leyden jar, the resistance was reduced to 50 ohms. The effect of shock was then tried, and after this the sparks produced by arrangement A were able to reduce the resistance.
The following experiment is also of the same kind. Aluminium filings placed in a parallelipidic trough completely stopped the current from a Daniell cell, and the resistance offered to a single cell remained infinite after the trough had been placed in the circuit of 25 sulphate of mercury cells for 10sec. The aluminium was next placed in circuit with a battery of 75 cells; a single Daniell cell was then able to send a current through the substance. The original resistance was restored by shock, but not the original condition of things, since a single cell was able to send a current after the aluminium had been circuited for 10 sec. with a battery of only 25 cells. I may add that if the restoration of resistance was brought about by a violent shock, it was necessary to place the aluminium in circuit with 75 cells for one minute before the resistance was again broken down.
It must be observed that electrical influence is not always necessary to restore conductivity after an apparent return to the original resistance, repeated feeble blows being sometimes successful in bringing this about. Both in the case of slow return by time and sudden return by shock, the original value of the resistance is often increased. Rods of Carré carbon, 1 metre long and 1 mm. in diameter, were particularly noticeable for this phenomenon.
Return to Original Resistance by Temperature Elevation.—A plate of coppered ebonite rendered conducting by electricity, and placed close to a gas jet, quickly regained its original resistance. A solid rod of resin and aluminium, or of sulphur and aluminium, rendered conducting by connection to the poles of a small battery will regain its original resistance by shock; but if the conducting state has been caused by powerful means, such, for instance, as direct contact with a Leyden jar, shock no longer has any effect, at least such a shock as the fragile nature of the material can stand. A slight rise of temperature, however, has the desired result. By suitably regulating the electric action it is possible to get a substance into such a condition that the warmth of the fingers suffices to annul conductivity.
Influence of Surroundings.—Electric action gives rise to no alteration of resistance when the substance is entirely within a closed metal box. The sensitive substance, in circuit with a Daniell cell and a galvanometer, is placed inside a brass box ([Fig. 54], p. 97). The absence of current is ascertained, the circuit broken, and the box closed. A Wimshurst machine is then worked a little way off, and will be found to have had no effect. The same result will be obtained if the circuit is kept closed during the time the Wimshurst machine is in operation. If a wire connected at some point to the circuit is passed out through a hole in the box to a distance of 20 cm. to 50 cm., the influence of the Wimshurst machine makes itself felt. On tapping the lid to restore resistance the galvanometer needle remains deflected so long as the sparks continue to pass. If, however, the wires are pushed in so that they only project a few millimetres, the sparks still passing, a few taps suffice to bring back the needle to zero. On touching the end of the wire with the fingers or a piece of metal conductivity is immediately restored. The movements of the galvanometer needle were rendered visible in these experiments by looking through a piece of wide mesh wire-gauze with a telescope. The respective position of the things was also reversed; that is to say, a Ruhmkorff coil and a periodically discharged Leyden jar were placed inside, and the sensitive substance outside, the box, with the same results.
In some later experiments with a larger metallic case ([Fig. 57]), and with the Daniel cell, sensitive substance, delicate galvanometer, and Wheatstone Bridge placed inside, I found that a double casing was necessary in order to absolutely suppress all effects. A glass covering afforded no protection.