and were subsequently described to the Royal Institution in a lecture delivered in 1892.[1] We have for some time past directed our attention to the question of determining the numerical values of the magnetic permeability and magnetic susceptibility of liquid oxygen, with the object of determining not only the magnitude of these physical constants, but also whether they vary with the magnetic force under which they are determined.
Although a large number of determinations have been made by many observers of the magnetic susceptibility of different liquids taken at various temperatures, difficulties of a particular kind occur in dealing with liquid oxygen. One method adopted for determining the magnetic susceptibility of a liquid is to observe the increase of mutual induction of two conducting circuits suitably placed, first in air, and then when the air is replaced by the liquid in question, the susceptibility of which is to be determined. A second method consists in determining the mechanical force acting on a known mass of the liquid when placed in a non-uniform magnetic field. Owing to the difficulty of preventing entirely the evaporation of liquid oxygen, even when contained in a good vacuum vessel, and the impossibility of sealing it up in a bulb or tube, and having regard to the effect of the low temperature of the liquid in deforming by contraction and altering the conducting power of coils of wire placed in it, it was necessary to devise some method which should be independent of the exact constancy in mass of the liquid gas operated upon, and independent also of slight changes in the form of any coils of wire which might be used in it. After many unsuccessful preliminary experiments the method which was finally adopted as best complying with the conditions introduced by the peculiar nature of the substance operated upon is as follows:—
A small closed circuit transformer was constructed, the core of which could be made to consist either of liquid oxygen or else immediately changed to gaseous oxygen, having practically the same temperature. This transformer consisted of two coils, the primary coil was made of forty-seven turns of No. 12 S.W.G-. wire, this wire was wound into a spiral, having a rectangular shape, the rectangular turns having a length of 8 cm. and a width of 1*8 cm. This rectangular-sectioned spiral, consisting of one layer of wire of forty-seven turns, was bent round a thin brass tube, 8 cm. long and 2\ cm. in diameter, so that it formed a closed circular solenoid of one layer of wire. The wire was formed of high conductivity copper, doubly insulated with cotton, and each single turn or winding having a rectangular form.
The turns of covered wire closely touched each other on the inner circumference of the toroid, but on the external circumference were
- ↑ See ‘ Roy. Inst. Proc.,’ June 10th, 1892, “ On the Magnetic Properties of Liquid Oxygen.” Friday evening discourse, by Professor J. Dewar, F.R.S.
