Les fondements expérimentaux et historiques de l’électricité (vol. 2)

Description

This work deals with the most fundamental aspects of physics. The book describes the main experiments and discoveries in the history of electricity. It deals with attractions and repulsions, positive and negative charges, conductors and insulators, electrification by friction/contact/induction, the triboelectric series, electrification of adhesive tapes, distribution of charges in conductors, electric equilibrium and the instrument which indicates potential difference, electric shielding, the power of points, sparks and electric discharges in air, electrets and the temporal preservation of the electrification of bodies, the mysterious non-electrostatic forces, etc. This work explains how to build several instruments: versorium, electric pendulum, electroscope, charge collector, circuit tester, electrophorus, the Leyden jar and capacitors, etc. We reproduce some experiments of Stephen Gray, Du Fay, Franklin, Volta, Kelvin, Faraday etc. All experiments are clearly described and performed with simple, inexpensive materials. These experiments lead to clear concepts, definitions and laws describing these phenomena. Historical aspects are presented, together with relevant quotations from the main scientists. A large bibliography is included at the end of the work.