Negative Electricity.
The kind of electricity with which a piece of amber is charged by
friction with flannel; resinous electricity. (See Electrostatic Series.)
In a galvanic battery the surface of the zinc plate is charged with
negative electricity.
According to the single fluid theory negative electrification consists
in a deficiency of electricity.
[Transcriber's note: Negative electrification is an excess of
electrons.]
Negative Element.
In a voltaic cell the plate not dissolved by the solution; the one which
is positively charged; the copper, platinum, or carbon plate in the
usual type of battery.
The current is assumed to flow from negative element to positive element
(the zinc plate) through the wire or other external conductor.
Nerve Currents.
Currents of electricity obtained from nerves. They are much more feeble
than those obtained from muscle, but are produced in the same general
ways.
Network.
Conductors in parallel and crossing each other, with connections at the
junctions.
The term is sometimes so loosely applied as to include parallel
conductors.
Neutral Line of Commutator.
The diameter of a commutator which connects its Neutral Points, q. v.;
sometimes termed the diameter of commutation; the diameter approximately
at right angles with the lines of force. The commutator brushes are
applied at the extremities of this diameter.
Neutral Point of a Commutator.
The points of a commutator at which no lines of force are cut; the
points at the extremities of a diameter which, except for the lag, would
be at right angles to the lines of force; the points at which the
brushes touch the commutator.
Neutral Point, Thermo-electric.
A temperature marking a point of no thermo-electric difference of
potential. If the junctions of a thermo-electric couple are at
temperatures, one a little over and the other an equal amount under the
neutral point, no current will be developed. At the neutral point the
thermo-electric polarities are reversed. Differences of temperature
above it give currents of reverse direction to those given by
corresponding differences below it. For an iron-copper couple the
neutral point is 274.5° C. (526° F.)
Synonym--Neutral Temperature.
Neutral Relay Armature.
An unpolarizable armature for use with a relay; an armature of soft iron
or iron wire; as distinguished from a polarized armature.