Self-Induction in Iron Conductors

Abstract

MR. SUMPNER quotes (NATURE, May 10, p. 30), in support of the idea that iron conductors may have less self-induction than copper ones of the same dimensions, a suggestion of mine that for very feeble magnetizing forces, iron may be diamagnetic That suggestion was confessedly speculative; its basis was the notion that the Weber-Ampere electro-magnetic molecules suffer something akin to static friction when the process of magnetization attempts to bring them into alignment. Since it was thrown out, Lord Rayleigh has proved that the susceptibility of iron is constant, and has a fairly high positive value, for magnetic forces ranging from 0.03 to 0.04 C.G.S. downwards. Below the lowest force he has investigated, it is still conceivable that there may be a change in the susceptibility, but it is extremely improbable. In all likelihood, Lord Rayleigh's straight line in the curve of B and H or of I and H extends back to the origin. This at least is certain, that if there is any region at the beginning of magnetization within which the permeability is less than unity, or even no more than unity, it must be so infinitesimally narrow that its existence has no practical interest. For such magnetic forces as act on a lightning-conductor when a discharge is passing, iron is, beyond any question, strongly paramagnetic, and the self-induction with the iron conductor consequently greater than with the copper.