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ELECTRIFICATION
95

earth, that is, right away to zero potential. We have thus brought the potential of the cylinder to zero, and increased the potential difference between sphere and cylinder. We have strengthened the tubes of force passing from sphere to cylinder. The total flux emanating from the sphere has not altered, for that is strictly limited by the charge originally on the sphere, but whilst with a sphere free in space the flux is evenly distributed all round, we have, by bringing the cylinder near, and especially by discharging its positive electricity to earth, disturbed the symmetrical field of the sphere, making it much denser on its left half, and thus increased the inductive effect on the cylinder. The charge at its left end will be increased. If we now interrupt the connection to earth, we have a negatively charged cylinder, and we may carry this charge to some third conductor, and by touching it with the cylinder impart to it a negative charge. This process may be repeated. Approach the cylinder to the sphere again, discharge the cylinder to earth, then pick it up by its insulating stand and carry it again into contact with the third conductor and so on.

By this process the third conductor becomes negatively charged without the use