A fuse for igniting an explosive by electricity. There are two kinds. In one a thin wire unites the ends of the two conducting wires as they enter the case of the fuse. The larger wires are secured to the case, so that no strain comes on the fine wire. On passing a current of [...]

The heating of a conductor by the passage of a current; the Joule effect, q. v.

A safety fuse or cut off which consists of a wire of pure tin running from terminal to terminal, to whose centre a leaden ball is secured by being cast into position. The connection with the terminals is made by rings at the ends of the wire through which the terminal screws are passed and [...]

A box containing a safety fuse. Porcelain is an excellent material for its base. No combustible material should enter into its composition.

A tablet on which a number of safety fuses are mounted. Slate is excellent material for the tablet, as it is incombustible, and is easily drilled and worked.

A furnace in which the heat is produced by the electric current. It has hitherto been practically used only in the extraction of aluminum and silicium  from their ores. The general principle involves the formation of an arc between carbon electrodes. The substances to be treated are exposed to the heat thus produced. Sometimes the [...]

An irregular and tubular mass of vitrified quartz, believed to be formed by melting under the lightning stroke.

A term applied to a noise sometimes produced in a voltaic arc due to too close approach of the carbons to each other. It has been suggested that it may be due to volatilization of the carbon. (Elihu Thomson.)

If the nerve or living muscle of a frog is suddenly dropped upon another living muscle so as to come in contact with its longitudinal and transverse sections, the first muscle will contract on account of the stimulation of its nerve due to the passage of a current derived from the second muscle (Ganot). The [...]

A classic experiment in electricity, leading to the discovery of current or dynamic electricity. If a pair of legs of a recently killed frog are prepared with the lumbar nerves exposed near the base of the spinal column, and if a metallic conductor, one half-length zinc and the other half-length copper, is held, one end [...]