Maxwell´s Theory of the Layer Dielectric

Maxwett stated in his ``Electricity and Magnetism´´ that for a non-homogeneous dielectric built up of n plane layers of varying thicknesses and varying ratios of resistivity to specific capacity, the charging current will be given by a linear differential equation of order n-1 involving the nth derivative of the applied e. m. f. This equation and its detailed solution are given here ana the two cases of greatest practical interest??namely the case where the applied e. m. f. is constant and the case where it is a pure harmonic??are treated fully. By a Fourier analysis the general case can be reduced to these two.