Various Tesla book cover images

Nikola Tesla Books

Books written by or about Nikola Tesla

Related content from pages

Designation
375

LII. This plate shows a discharge from the top of the extra coil, produced by a single closure of the circuit or throw of the switch, of very short duration. The discharge issues again from the brass ring on the top of the extra coil, which is viewed centrally. Some streamers pass into the air and sparks dart to the hood above the coil. A curious spiral or screw motion in one or two streamers is noticeable. The light of the discharge, though lasting but one fraction of a second, is strong enough to reveal a part of the structure and the top of the coil. The current of air separates the sparks and streamers into the individual discharges produced by the break wheel. This effect is beautifully shown. The vibra-

Designation
379

tion of the coil and all other particulars are as in most previous instances recently described. No after illumination by arc or flash.

Phot. LII. Discharge from the top of "extra coil", produced by a single closure of the circuit of very short duration.

Glossary

Lowercase tau - an irrational constant defined as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its radius, equal to the radian measure of a full turn; approximately 6.283185307 (equal to 2π, or twice the value of π).
A natural rubber material obtained from Palaquium trees, native to South-east Asia. Gutta-percha made possible practical submarine telegraph cables because it was both waterproof and resistant to seawater as well as being thermoplastic. Gutta-percha's use as an electrical insulator was first suggested by Michael Faraday.
The Habirshaw Electric Cable Company, founded in 1886 by William M. Habirshaw in New York City, New York.
The Brown & Sharpe (B & S) Gauge, also known as the American Wire Gauge (AWG), is the American standard for making/ordering metal sheet and wire sizes.
A traditional general-purpose dry cell battery. Invented by the French engineer Georges Leclanché in 1866.
Refers to Manitou Springs, a small town just six miles west of Colorado Springs, and during Tesla's time there, producer of world-renown bottled water from its natural springs.
A French mineral water bottler.
Lowercase delta letter - used to denote: A change in the value of a variable in calculus. A functional derivative in functional calculus. An auxiliary function in calculus, used to rigorously define the limit or continuity of a given function.
America's oldest existing independent manufacturer of wire and cable, founded in 1878.
Lowercase lambda letter which, in physics and engineering, normally represents wavelength.
The lowercase omega letter, which represents angular velocity in physics.