Part 1

A-B-C OF ELECTRICITY

BY WILLIAM H. MEADOWCROFT

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK & LONDON

A-B-C of Electricity

COPYRIGHT, 1888, 1909, BY WILLIAM H. MEADOWCROFT

COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY HARPER & BROTHERS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PUBLISHED MAY, 1915

FROM THE LABORATORY OF THOMAS A. EDISON ORANGE, N. J.

MR. W. H. MEADOWCROFT, New York City.

DEAR SIR:

_I have read the MS. of your "A-B-C of Electricity," and find that the statements you have made therein are correct. Your treatment of the subject, and arrangement of the matter, have impressed me favorably.

Yours truly, THOS. A. EDISON

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

INTRODUCTION TO NEW EDITION viii

PREFACE x

I. 1

II. DEFINITIONS 3

III. MAGNETISM 16

IV. THE TELEGRAPH 23

V. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY 33

VI. THE TELEPHONE 40

VII. ELECTRIC LIGHT 54

VIII. ELECTRIC POWER 87

IX. BATTERIES 95

X. CONCLUSION 127

INTRODUCTION TO NEW EDITION

The favor with which this book has been received has brought about the preparation of this new edition. The present volume has been enlarged by the addition of certain new material and it has been entirely reset. Some new illustrations have been made, and in its new dress the book, it is hoped, will be found to afford an even larger measure of usefulness. The principles of the science remain the same, but the author is glad of the opportunity to note certain developments in their application.

W. H. M. EDISON LABORATORY, April, 1915.