On the action of - electrostatic alternators

A detailed analysis, based on a consideration of charges and potentials, is made of the action of two simple electrostatic alternators; a four-symmetric, four carrier, machine, and a trisymmetric, six carrier, machone.Each of the machines is the prototype of a whole family of polysymmetric electrostatic alternators, and the method of analysis is extended to the generalized machine of each type. A basis for a qualitative theory of electrostatic alternators is evolved.