The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-29
Playful ET FCrRIC IT,.

Prom the san 4
The motOrnan on an electric car
doesn't need 10 be versed in physics to
get practical illustrations Of the law
that govern the workings Of the subtle
electric fluid. Any Young student
could readily explain how, why or
when the motorman or conductor OF an
electric street car might expect to re-
ceive sharp reminder of the fact that
ne was only partially curbing u great
and invisible power.
That water is a good conductor of
electricity is soon driven home in the
mind of the young electrician by a very
simple experiment. 4 coin Is placed in
the bottom of a vessel full of water,
and into the vessel wire from an cleo
trio battery is led. The student takes
hold of the free wire and is then told
that the coin is his if he can take
it from the water. The moment
he plunpes his hand in he receives a
severe shock. and finds that he can not
.lose his fingers on the coveted coin.
The reason is that the water is charged
with electricity, and he. standing on
the ground. completes the circuit the
instant he touches the water.
A practical illustration of this very
simple experiment is given IN wet
weather on any electric car using the
trolley. The rope by means OF which
the conductor swings the trolley from
the front TO the back Of the car at the
end OF each trip passes vertically down
into the back of the car. where 1t can
be handily reached. 1t Is well-known
fact that the water which runs off the
trolley wheel and down the rope Is
heavily charged 18th electricity. As 1t
drips steadily on the floor Of the
car the woodwork of the latter
becomes gradually saturated and d
wet battery is formed. the cir
cult being complete from mo-
tor 70 trolley. down the rope 20 the
car. Standing on the wet platform.
the conductor himself may, and often
does. become slightly charged This
is illustrated In mild way. and coca
sionally quite strongly. The conduc-
tor in making the change will give the
passenger a little twinge, and when a
car has been out in the rain for some
houES the , ~ - IT, EN~@A
seen to jerk sharply back IN taking The
coin from the conductor, just as the
students hs nd Is shocked when trying
TO remove the coin from vessel OF
electrically charged water N the ex-
pertinent described
So charged do electric cars become
occas ionaily. particularly when the
wood is VERY dry and open. 50 that the
water collects rapidly. that they have
70 be housed until the wafer can Dc
drawn of and insulation restored
There - no danger whatever n these
shocks, :aey ere slight. and VIII a.
most remind the passenger % his
school boy DAYS. Il sometimes take
two OF three hours for car % drain
Of the accumulated electricity. ami
even then a slight shock oan - Or
tanned by touching different metallic
portions OF the car.
The nnotormsn nav occasional = re
ccive more violent rem nder % the
fact that ms ca j. charged With e!ec-
tricity- This was the cass the Other
day during the storm TleD q motor
raas was H1ng bodily back against the
door ~ MS car Tne control sr, Is
the car E.en cali the crank with v h'eh
the usotoruan closes the current and
obtains power from The trclly. - 80
Gated close % the brake I De latter 5 a
ground wire 70 the car - charge
with electricity s1d tn~ -noTtorzlau
se.z- controller and brs-,e siuuitsHe-
ouslv lie rnUs. receive fore be illustr--
80, - "a. -..-s-zr.se --rrrN AIS 49, =
ofre-s . The passage q t.s current
from one conductor % another II va
IT. this way that to uC-to-a1su Vszs
au,c against tae dco-. Tho ssAo
have bad experience take the brake q
Err and then tz-a The contoiler IN
starting. oT reverse the order - The or
GRAFTON n stopping
jus: 81 teiegrzPking and teiePonIaz
are much .-iegirsed, VII ). u vet ysez;..