Oscillating Needle.
A small light bar magnet suspended by a filament and employed in
determining the intensity of a magnetic field by the oscillations it
completes in a given time after a given disturbance.
Oscillations, Electric.
In static electricity the sudden and very rapid alternations in the
discharge of a static condenser. This discharge of the disruptive order
seems a single one, but is really composed of a number of discharges
alternating in direction and producing electro-magnetic ether waves,
probably identical with light waves except that they are longer and far
less rapid.
Oscillatory Electro-motive Force.
Electro-motive force rapidly changing in sense or in direction, so that
it presents an oscillatory character. The alternating current and the
telephone current as used in practice are actuated by this type of
electro-motive force.
Osmose, Electric.
When two liquids are separated by a porous diaphragm, and a strong
current of electricity is passed through from the liquid on one side,
through the diaphragm, to the liquid on the other side, the liquid on
the side towards which the current is passing rises in level. The
process is termed electric osmose. When a liquid is forced through a
diaphragm a current is produced; in other words electric osmose is
reversible. The current thus produced is termed a diaphragm current.
Oscillation, Electric.
The phase of discharge of a static condenser in one direction. It is
usually followed by a discharge in the opposite direction constituting a
second oscillation, and so on, so that a great number of exceedingly
short oscillations are comprised. Thus, in the discharge of the Leyden
jar a large number of oscillations of current back and forth are
produced, the current alternating like the swings of a pendulum.
These oscillations are supposed to affect the ether, producing waves in
it identical with light waves, except that we have not been able yet to
produce them short enough to affect the visual organs. The waves thus
produced can be reflected or refracted; some substances are transparent
for them and others opaque. There is a possibility that man may yet
succeed in producing electric oscillations of sufficient frequency to
bring about the direct production of light.
Oscillatory Displacement.
Hypothetical displacement currents of rapidly alternating direction
produced in the oscillatory discharge of a Leyden jar or static
condenser.
Oscillatory Induction.
Induction produced by sympathetic action of an oscillatory discharge or
by electric resonance. (See Oscillations, Electric--Resonance,
Electric--Resonator, Electric.)