| RefNo | PP/9/9 |
| Previous numbers | PP/41/11 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Paper, 'A theory of voltaic action' by John Brown |
| Date | 1886 |
| Description | Brown writes: 'From a series of experiments made more or less continuously during the last five years the following conclusions have been drawn:— That the difference of potential near two metals in contact as observed either by the bi-metallic condenser (Volta’s) method, or by the bi-metallic ring or quadrants method of Sir William Thomson, is due to the chemical action of a film of condensed vapour or gas on the surfaces of the metals.
That the two metals with their liquid or quasi-liquid films are quite similar to a galvanic cell composed of the same metals as elements, and a liquid similar to that of the films as electrolyte; the said electrolyte being (in the ordinary static “contact” experiment) divided by the intervening insulating diaphragm of air or other gas.'
Annotations in pencil and ink throughout.
Subject: Physics / Electricity
Received 4 October 1886 / 15 October 1886. Read 18 November 1886. Communicated by Lord Rayleigh [John William Strutt].
A version of this paper was published in volume 41 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'A theory of voltaic action'. |
| Extent | 68p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink and graphite pencil on paper |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedMaterial | DOI: 10.1098/rspl.1886.0095 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA5620 | Brown; John (1850 - 1911) | 1850 - 1911 |
| NA6090 | Strutt; John William (1842 - 1919); 3rd Baron Rayleigh; experimental and mathematical physicist | 1842 - 1919 |
| NA8289 | Thomson; William (1824 - 1907); Baron Kelvin of Largs; mathematician and physicist | 1824 - 1907 |