voltaic arc

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Voltaic \Vol*ta"ic\, a. [Cf. F. volta["i]que, It. voltaico.] [1913 Webster]

1.Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action, and established this branch of electric science; discovered by Volta; as, voltaic electricity. [1913 Webster]

2.Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as, voltaic induction; the voltaic arc. [1913 Webster]

Note: See the Note under Galvanism. [1913 Webster]

Voltaic arc, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a powerful voltaic current.

Voltaic battery, an apparatus variously constructed, consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by which a current of electricity is generated whenever the two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a conductor; a galvanic battery. See Battery, 4. (b), and Note.

Voltaic circuit. See under Circuit.

Voltaic couple or Voltaic element, a single pair of the connected plates of a battery.

Voltaic electricity. See the Note under Electricity.

Voltaic pile, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by moistened cloth or paper. See 5th Pile.

Voltaic protection of metals, the protection of a metal exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or coated with zinc. [1913 Webster]

Arc \Arc\, n. [F. arc, L. arcus bow, arc. See Arch, n.]

1.(Geom.) A portion of a curved line; as, the arc of a circle or of an ellipse. [1913 Webster]

2.A curvature in the shape of a circular arc or an arch; as, the colored arc (the rainbow); the arc of Hadley's quadrant. [1913 Webster]

3.An arch. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Statues and trophies, and triumphal arcs.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

4.The apparent arc described, above or below the horizon, by the sun or other celestial body. The diurnal arc is described during the daytime, the nocturnal arc during the night. [1913 Webster]

Electric arc, Voltaic arc. See under Voltaic. [1913 Webster]