Nikola Tesla - Free-Energy Devices

322 INVENTIONS OF NIKOLA TESLA.they always exist, consuming energy and modifying the actionof the apparatus. When intense, as they are at present, theyproduce ozone in great quantity, and also, as Professor Crookeshas pointed out, nitrous acid. So quick is the chemical action thatif a coil, such as this one, is worked for a very long time it willmake the atmosphere of a small room unbearable, for the eyesand throat are attacked. But when moderately produced, thestreamers refresh the atmosphere wonderfully, like a thunderstorm,and exercises unquestionably a beneficial effect.In this experiment the force acting between the plates changesin intensity and direction at a very rapid rate. I will now makethe rate of change per unit time much smaller. This I effect byrendering the discharges through the primary of the inductioncoil less frequent, and also by diminishing the rapidity of the vibrationin the secondary. The former result is conveniently securedby lowering the E. M. r. over the air gap in the primarycircuit, the latter by approaching the two brass plates to a distanceof about three or four inches. When the coil is set to work,you see no streamers or light between the plates, yet the mediumbetween them is under a tremendous strain. I still further augmentthe strain by raising the E. M. F. in the primary circuit, andsoon you see the air give way and the hall is illuminated by ashower of brilliant and noisy sparks, Fig. 1TO&. These sparks couldbe produced also with unvarying force ; they have been for manyyears a familiar phenomenon, though they were usually obtainedfrom an entirely different apparatus. In describing these twophenomena so radically different in appearance, I have advisedlyspoken of a " force " acting between the plates. It would be inaccordance with accepted views to say, that there was an " alternatingE. M. F," acting between the plates. This term is quiteproper and applicable in all cases where there is evidence of atleast a possibility of an essential inter-dependence of the electricstate of the plates, or electric action in their neighborhood. Butif the plates were removed to an infinite distance, or if at a finitedistance, there is no probability or necessity whatever for suchdependence. I prefer to use the term " electrostatic force," andto say that such a force is acting around each plate or electrified insulatedbody in general. There is an inconvenience in using thisexpress/on as the term incidentally means a steady electric condition;but a proper nomenclature will eventually settle this difficulty.