The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-14
PLAYFUL ELECTRICITY.
Some Of tho Prani.s TIA. E5ny Bc OBJ
ser Ied on "A Wet Day.


The motCrman ON an electric car
doesn't necl to bo versod in physics
to got practical illustrations of tho
laws that govern the workings Of the
subtle electric fluid. Any young
student could readily explain how,
why and when the motorman or con-
duotor Of an electric street car might
expect to receive a sharp reminder
of the fact that he was only partially
curbing a great and invisible power
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 CIR, where
it can be handily reached. 1t Is a
we'll known fact that the water
which runs of the trolley wheel and
down tho rope is heavily charged
with electricity. As it drips steadily
on the floor of the car tho woodwork
of the latter becomes gradually sat-
urated, and wet battery is formed,
the circuit being complete from mo-
tor to trolley down the rope to the
car. Standing on the wet platform
the conductor himself may and often
does become slightly charged. This
is illustrated in a mild way and oc-
casionally quite strongly. The con-
ductor in making change will give
the passenger a little tingle, and
when a car has been out in the rain
for some hours the passengers arm
has been seen to jerk sharply back
in taking the coin from the conduct
or, just as tho students hand is
shocked when trying to remove the
coin from vessel of electrically
charged water.
So charged do electric cars become
occasionally, particularly when the
wood is very dry and open, so that
the water collects rapidly, that they
have to be housed until the water can
be drawn OF and insulation restored.
There is no danger whatever in
these shocks. They ore slight and
will at most remind thepasscnger OF
his schoolboy days. 1t sometimes
takes two or three hours for car tc
drain off tho accumulated electricity,
and even then slight shock can be
obtained by touching different me
tallic portions of tho car.
The motorman may occasionally
receive q moro violent reminder o.
the fact that his car is charged will
electricity. This was the case tn
other day during tho storm when
motorman was flung bodily bscl
against the door Of his car. Til
controller, as tho car men call III
crank with which tho motorma
closes tho current and obtains powC
from the trolley, is located close
tho brake. The latter is gro,lr
wire. If tho car be CHARGED wi'
electricity and the motorrlGn sci
"controller" and brake sinaitan'
ously no must receive forciblo illu
tration of tho resistance which II
body offers TO The passage Of the cul
rent from one conductor to anothe
1t was in this way that the motol
man was flung against tho doc.
Those who have had experience ta&'
the brake off FIRST and then turn tll,
controller ia starting. or reverse thu
order of tho operation in stopping.
A passenger may get faint shock
in wet weather tho moment b steps
on the car.
Itoften happens in stormy weather
that thero are q series of flashes to
bc seen vhorcvcr wires cross. This
is due partly TO bad insulation, and
also, IN n measure, o'the aid which
the water as conductor affords for
the collection of current Mt points
wherc the low OF water is interrupt.
ed. On tho tracks under tho wlocls
n similar phenomenon may often bo
Observed, oven in drY weather. The
dirt raiecs tho car oil the rails ald
the contact being Thus d dsStroycd tho
current lcups across the Intervening
space, and ;hara ian minute scintilla-
ton ot steel
In foggy weather the thin coating
OF water on tho outside Of the cur
viii sometimes carry tho current
Dry, warn weather favors rood IN.
sulation. and - mono Of those phc.
nomena ia noticeable except the
ono OF iho il2sh under tho wheels OF