Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-21

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Several people can take the shock by join
ing hands, the outside one on one side hold
ing the jar and the outside one on the other
side touching the knob Those in the middle
those on the outside.
This is an example of the "quick discharge"
OF Leyden jar. 1t can, however, also be
discharged slowly, and the following expert
ment makes use of this faculty:
Ia ke three small bells, which can be pro-
cured at any toy shop, and remove the clap
pers. Now suspend two of them by wires
at opposite ends of piece OF metal or stout
wire about three inches long, and suspend
this wire in the centre by bent wire Tor
which is fixed to thick piece of board, COW
cred with tinfoil, to act as a base.
The tinfoil must be in communication with
the supporting wire, and the height of the
den jar is placed between them, with the
third bell supported on the knob (the SUI
port of the clapper will have to be removed
from the bell for this purpose), all three bells
will be of equal heights and about half an
inch distant from each other (the diagram,
Fig. 2, will explain the arrangement
Now suspend two small brass buttons by
silk threads so as to hang between the bells
when the Leyden jar is placed in the centre.
Charge the jar with the tray; and replace it
in position (of course, with the bell on top;
the buttons will then begin to move back
ward and forward between the bells, and the
latter will keep up a vigorous Ginning until
the electricity of the jar is exhausted
In this experiment it is essential that the
supports be of metal, or wood covered with
tinfoil, as the electricity passes from the in
side of the jar to the outside, while it is
standing upon the tinfoil by means of the
balls, and thus causes them to vibrate.
A candle which has just been blown out,
leaving the wick glowing, can easily, be light:
ed by means of the charged Leyden jar if
piece of bent wire is held touching the out.
er coating and the other end on one side of
the wick, while the knob is approached to
the other, SO that the spark passes through
the glowing wick.
In the same way spirits of wine can be
lighted, and gunpowder exploded To do
this, it is best to have two pieces of bent
wire. provided with handles of glass at the
middle. These wires are held by the handles,
one in contract with the outer coating, and
the other with the inner coating, Of the
charged Leyden jar.
On approaching the other two ends of the
wires, spark passes between them, and if a
small quantity of gunpowder is placed on a
table, and spark is made to pass through it
by approaching the wires to either side, it
will be fired.
There are many other experiments which
can be performed by the help of the simple
apparatus described, but it would take up
too much space to describe them. I hope I
have described enough to give occupation of
to readers who have natural interest in the
science of electricity.
1 will only add in conclusion that those
who have the machine described in No 6,
Vol. ii, will be able to carry out these ex-
periments much more easily.
Also, if any one stands on the
tumblers. as mentioned above, and places
one hand on the conductor of the machine,
as long as the handle is worked, sparks will
dart from his fingers whenever he approaches
them to any one else, and he can light spirits
of wine with his knuckle in moment.
The windmill described will turn with
great velocity if placed on the conductor
when the handle is turned and if a tinplate
is supported above the table by wire from
the conductor, pieces of paper placed under
it will continue. to dance up and down as
long as the machine is worked.
The, Leyden jar will be charged in a few
seconds by. holding it in front of the con-
ductor until it has received large number
of sparks; the head of hair will 6etrav tbe
liveliest horror if placed on the conductor
and the needle will glow brightly as LONG as
electricity is supplied to it by the machine.
For these reasons machine is a great
acquisition; but if we cannot get one we
can. content ourselves with the method If
performing the experiments given above.