Abstract
THE phenomenon of rotation of dielectric-surfaced cylinders between the poles of a Wimshurst machine, described by Dr. Richardson in NATURE for Feb. 12 (p. 238), and recently demonstrated by him, does not appear to differ in any essential feature from that exhibited by the old toy “electrostatic motor,” consisting of several insulating spokes radiating from an axle, and each surmounted by a light celluloid or other ball. This rotated between oppositely charged knobs. The cause of rotation is presumably identical in both cases. The same result could doubtless be obtained by using a conducting surface broken up by insulating strips, as on the commutator of an ordinary D.C. motor.
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RECORD, C. Rotation of Dielectric Bodies in Electrostatic Fields. Nature 119, 319 (1927). https://doi.org/10.1038/119319a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/119319a0
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