III. Propagation of magnetization of iron as affected by the electric currents in the iron
It is not unfamiliar to those who have worked on large dynamos with the ballistic galvanometer, that the indications of the galvanometer do not give the whole changes which occur in the induction. Let the deflections of the galvanometer connected to an exploring coil be observed when the main current in the magnetic coils is reversed. The first elongation will be much greater than the second in the other direction, and probably the third greater than the second—showing that a continued current exists in one direction for a time comparable with the time of oscillation of the galvanometer. These effects cannot be got rid of, though they can be diminished by passing the exciting current through a non-inductive resistance and increasing the electromotive force employed. This if carried far enough would be effective if the iron of the cores were divided so that no currents could exist in the iron; but the currents in the iron, if the core is solid, continue for a considerable time and maintain the magnetism of the interior of the core in the direction it had before reversal of current. It was one of our objects to investigate this more closely by ascertaining the changes occurring at different depths in a core in terms of the time after reversal has been made. The experiments were carried out in the Siemens Laboratory, King’s College, London; and the electro-magnet used is shown in fig. 1. It consists in its first form, the results of which though instructive are not satisfactory, of two vertical wroughtiron cores, 18 inches long and 4 inches diameter, wound with 2595 and 2613 turns respectively of No. 16 B. W. G. cotton-covered copper wire—the resistance of the two coils in series being 16·3 ohms. The yoke is of wrought-iron 4 inches square in section and 2 feet long. The pole-pieces are of wrought-iron 4 inches square, and all surfaces in contact are truly planed. One of the pole-pieces is turned down at the end, which butts on the other pole-piece, for half an inch of its length to a diameter of 4 inches; and three circular grooves are cut in the abutting face having mean