First indication of ampere tension in solid electric conductors

Abstract

An empirical law for the mechanical force between two current-elements, originally deduced by Ampère from a series of classical experiments, asserts that an electric current flowing along a straight wire should place the wire in tension. The existence of longitudinal Ampère forces at solid-liquid conductor interfaces has been demonstrated by various investigators during the past 160 years. This letter contains the first report of pulse currents creating sufficient tension to cause fracture in hot copper and aluminum wires. © 1983.