Message-Id: <l0311071bb34ba0b1db9c@[192.174.2.173]>
In-Reply-To: <5988f5de.2453b60f@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 09:21:37 -0800
To: "Pinhole Listserv" <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
From: Paul Doherty <pauld@exploratorium.edu>
Subject: Re: pinhole Leyden Jars - big ones....
Hi Al
Be careful charging big Leyden Jars with Van deGraafs you can accumulate
quite a bit of charge at a high voltage. You can then get a serious shock.
I usually stick to electrophorus charged Leyden Jars. i.e. wool and
styrofoam. The students get bored before they can reach dangerous charge
levels. Although they can still get a big zap.
The inventor of the Leyden jar, Pieter Van Musschenbroeck, discharged one
through himself and reported"my whole body was shaken as though by a
thunderbolt!"
Take Care
Paul D
Paul "But it is more complicated than that!" Doherty,
Senior Staff Scientist, The Exploratorium.
pauld@exploratorium.edu, www.exo.net/~pauld