An investigation of the friction between sliding surfaces, with special reference to the effects produced by electric currents passing across such surfaces

It has often been demonstrated that when an electric current is passed across certain sliding contacts the friction undergoes a change. In most cases the flow of electricity across the junction is accompanied by an increase in the friction, but in a few instances a slipping action is produced. Both these effects have been applied, to the operation of telephone devices, etc., but only a tentative explanation has so far been given of many of the complicated phenomena with which they are associated. In this paper are described a number of experiments designed to elucidate these intricate processes, and in the light of these investigations an attempt has been made to build up a comprehensive theory of their action.