Franklin's TV

Don't try this at home!

No, really. I set this up on another TV and got an extra large spark to jump between the cans and another massive spark inside the TV somewhere, totally killing it ...

Anyway, when it works this is a cool version of "Franklin's bells" or the "shuttling ball" demo. The electrons being fired at the inside of the screen repel electrons from the foil creating an induced positive charge on the foil while the can on the right becomes negatively charged. The foil is attracted to the screen because of this induced charge. Exactly the same thing happens to the hanging ring pull, there is an induced charge dipole and it is attracted to the can on the right. If it touches the can electrons jump across and the ring pull becomes negatively charged. Now it is repelled and swings away until it touches the earthed can on the left. The process then repeats until the charge on the right can is mostly shuttled across to earth. When the TV is switched off the electrons get shuttled back from earth to neutralise the positive charge that built up on the foil.

PS touching both cans before the system is discharged is not recommended; especially if you have a pacemaker, nervous disposition or you are holding a priceless Ming vase...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Franklin's
• bells
• shuttling
• ball
• demo
• electrostatic
• discharge
• lightening
• conductor
• TV