No; a complete and final answer to this question is no more possible than the answer to the question—what is life? The theory of electricity, however, opens up possibilities of the most fascinating nature; it gives us a wonderfully clear conception of which might be called the inner mechanism of electricity; and it even introduces us to the very atoms of electricity.
Give a short outline of the theory of electricity.
Early Theories.—Early writers on the nature of electricity supposed it to be either a fluid of peculiar properties or else two fluids whose properties were complementary to each other or of opposite kinds; Franklin held the one fluid theory. Later physicists arrived at the conclusion that whatever electricity might be, it was not a material substance. As an [908] alternative it was suggested that electricity was a form of energy, but this proved untenable.
HOW ELECTRICITY IS PRODUCED BY THE ACTIVITY OF ELECTRONS
Diagram of the Atoms composing the finest point of a piece of Amber
ELECTRONS flying off from the SILK Atoms, across on to the AMBER Atoms, and so charging the Amber with what is called NEGATIVE Electricity
Diagram of the Atoms composing the thinnest possible thread of SILK; each Atom charged with innumerable NEGATIVE ELECTRONS whirling around within or on the Atoms.
Diagram of the Atoms composing the finest point of a piece of Amber
ELECTRONS flying off from the SILK Atoms, across on to the AMBER Atoms, and so charging the Amber with what is called NEGATIVE Electricity