1. Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised apparatus
for developing electric currents by chemical action, and established
this branch of electric science; discovered by Volta; as, voltaic
electricity.
2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as, voltaic
induction; the voltaic arc.
See the Note under Galvanism.
Voltaic arc, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed between
carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a powerful voltaic
current. — Voltaic battery, an apparatus variously constructed,
consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar metals, as
copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and subjected to the action of a
saline or acid solution, by which a current of electricity is generated
whenever the two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a
conductor; a galvanic battery. See Battery, 4. (b), and Note. — Voltaic
circuit. See under Circuit. — Voltaic couple or element, a single pair
of the connected plates of a battery. — Voltaic electricity. See the
Note under Electricity. — Voltaic pile, a kind of voltaic battery
consisting of alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by
moistened cloth or paper. See 5th Pile. — Voltaic protection of metals,
the protection of a metal exposed to the corrosive action of sea water,
saline or acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal
which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or coated with
zinc.
Vol*tair"e*an (?), a. [Cf. F. voltairien.] Of or relating to Voltaire,
the French author. J. Morley.
Vol*tair"ism (?), n. The theories or practice of Voltaire. J. Morley.
Vol"ta*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. voltaïsme.] (Physics) That form of
electricity which is developed by the chemical action between metals
and different liquids; voltaic electricity; also, the science which
treats of this form of electricity; — called also galvanism, from
Galvani, on account of his experiments showing the remarkable influence
of this agent on animals.
Vol*tam"e*ter (?), n. [Voltaic + - meter.] (Physics) An instrument for
measuring the voltaic electricity passing through it, by its effect in
decomposing water or some other chemical compound acting as an
electrolyte.
Vol"ta*plast (?), n. [Voltaic + Gr. &?; molded.] A form of voltaic, or
galvanic, battery suitable for use electrotyping. G. Francis.