Further experiments on the mass of the electric carrier in metals

Abstract

The production of an electromotive force by the acceleration of a metallic conductor was apparently demonstrated by the work of Tolman and Stewart [Physic. Rev., 8, 97 (1916); 9, 164 (1917)], by measuring the pulse of electric current produced by suddenly stopping a coil of wire rotating around its axis. The purpose of the work described in the present article has been twofold. In the first place it seemed desirable to obtain a new demonstration of this production of an electromotive force by the acceleration of a metal, using some method of attack as different as possible from that of Tolman and Stewart, in order to increase our certainty as to the reality of the effect. In the second place it seemed desirable to try to find a method which would eliminate direct electrical connections between moving and stationary parts, and would avoid the sudden stopping of a coil of wire, with the attendant chance of irregular electromotive forces due to buckling or slipping of the wire.