IV
KINETIC ENERGY OF ELECTRICITY IN MOTION [II]
145
tions, it would still remain unlikely that even a much narrower
limit should be exceeded.
It is worth noting that we do know electric currents,
which certainly possess kinetic energy [of matter] considerably
exceeding in magnitude the limit determined, namely, currents
in electrolytes. From the chemical equivalent of a current
of strength 1 in magnetic measure, and from the migration
number of silver nitrate, it is easy to calculate the velocities
with which the atomic groups Ag and NO, move in a solu-
tion of this salt of given concentration, when a current of
unit density flows through the solution. Hence the kinetic
energy of this motion follows, and in fact we find approximately
for solutions of average concentrations μ = 0.0078/n mm²,
when there are n parts by weight of salt to 1 of water. Thus
if the experiment described could be performed with an elec-
trolyte under the same conditions as with a metal, it would
give a positive result; but as a matter of fact, the resistance
and decomposition of the electrolyte prevent our obtaining
anything like equally favourable conditions of experiment.
1
M. P.
L