N.
(a) Symbol for north pole or north-seeking pole of a magnet.
(b) Symbol for the number of lines of force in a magnetic circuit.
Nairne's Electrical Machine.
The cylinder electrical machine, q.v.
Napierian Logarithms.
A series of logarithms the base of whose system is 2.72818. They are
also called hyperbolic logarithms.
Nascent State.
An element just separating from a combination possesses at that time
higher affinities than after separation, and can effect more powerful
chemical changes.
It is sometimes attributed to a differential time of existence in the
atomic modification, before the freed atoms have united to form
molecules.
Natural Currents.
A term for earth currents. (See Current, Earth.)
Needle.
(a) A term applied to a bar magnet poised horizontally upon a vertical
point, or suspended in a horizontal position by a filament. Thus the
magnet in a mariner's compass, which may be a substantial bar magnet, is
called a magnetic needle.
(b) An indicator in general shape like the hand of a clock. (Sec
Annunciator, Needle- Telegraph, Needle.)
Needle of Oscillation.
The magnetic needle poised horizontally, and used for measuring the
intensity of the earth's magnetic field, or of an artificial magnetic
field, by the method of oscillations. The intensities of the field is
inversely as the square of the number of oscillations performed in a
given time.
Needle, Telegraphic.
The index in needle telegraphy (see Telegraph, Needle), whose motions
indicate the characters it is desired to transmit.
Negative Charge.
One of the two kinds of electric charges. The other is the positive.
By the double fluid hypothesis this is assumed to be a charge of a
particular kind of electricity--negative electricity.
By the single fluid hypothesis it is supposed to be caused by the
absence of part of the normal electricity of a surface. The reverse is
held by some theorists.
The subject is so purely theoretical that neither of the two hypotheses
is accepted as final.
[Transcriber's note: Current is a wire is the motion of negative
electrons. Current in a electrolyte is the motion of positive ions and
negative ions. Current in a plasma is the motion of electrons and
positive ions.]