may be made equal to that of the electromotor . If the electrodes of this electromotor are now connected with the points no current will flow through the electromotor. By placing a galvanometer in the circuit of the electromotor , and adjusting the resistance between and , till the galvanometer indicates no current, we obtain the equation
, |
where is the resistance between and . and is the strength of the current in the primary circuit.
In the same way, by taking a second electromotor and placing its electrodes at and , so that no current is indicated by the galvanometer ,
, |
where is the resistance between and . If the observations of the galvanometers and are simultaneous, the value of , the current in the primary circuit, is the same in both equations, and we find
. |
In this way the electromotive force of two electromotors may be compared. The absolute electromotive force of an electromotor may be measured either electrostatically by means of the electrometer, or electromagnetically by means of an absolute galvanometer.
This method, in which, at the time of the comparison, there is no current through either of the electromotors, is a modification of Poggendorff's method, and is due to Mr. Latimer Clark, who has deduced the following values of electromotive forces:
Concentrated solution of |
Volts. | ||||||
Daniell | I. | Amalgamated Zinc | HSO4 + | 4 aq. | Cu SO 4 | Copper | = 1.079 |
II. | " | HSO4 + | 12 aq. | Cu SO4 | Copper | = 0.978 | |
III. | " | HSO4 + | 12 aq. | Cu NO6 | Copper | = 1.00 | |
Bunsen | I. | " | " | " | H NO6 | Carbon | = 1.964 |
II. | " | " | " | sp. g. 1.38 | Carbon | = 1.888 | |
Grove | " | HSO4 + | 4 aq. | H NO6 | Platinum | = 1.956 | |
A Volt is an electromotive force equal to 100,000,000 units of the centimetre-gramme-second system. |