On the Rotation of Dielectrics in Electrostatic Fields and Related Phenomena

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Abstract
The rotation of a dielectric covered body, suspended between the poles of a Wimshurst machine, is investigated and found to be due to the accumulation of charge on the surface of the body, under the action of the brush discharge, and to the subsequent electrostatic repulsion of this charge. It is shown theoretically, in an appendix, that the rate of rotation is governed by the rate of decay of the surface charge, and is a maximum for a certain value of this rate of decay. The rotation of a chain hanging from an electrical machine into the dielectric layer of a Leyden jar (the inner conducting coating being removed) and similar electrostatic experiments are described, and shown to be due also to the superficial charging of a dielectric body, body, and depends upon the rate of decay of this surface charge. A similar explanation is shown to account for some other electrostatic phenomena.

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