Leyden jars

"Modern" version of the original Leyden jar, with water in a cup, and improved Leyden jar with metal plates. They are connected to a "hailstorm box" and a ball electrometer.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• electrostatics
• physics
• electricity

[maintoc]

I thought Leyden jars were more a type of early capacitor. I heard the glass they used for the glass jars had a different composition than modern glass, and that modern glass leaks away the built-up charge too quickly. ~ What is the function of the cup with water (aside from providing you a drink when you're thirsty :p ), please?

[acmdq2007]

@maintoc Leyden jars are capacitors. Regular glass is very hygroscopic, and only insulates well when very dry. A layer of varnish or wax over the glass improves the insulation. Pyrex glass is better as insulator, but plastics are always better. The plastic cup makes a capacitor with the water as one plate and the table below as the other. The original Leyden jar was a glass bottle with water inside.

[JRmovielines]

is it possible to light a LED with a leyden jar and static electricity?

[acmdq2007]

@JRmovielines Just in brief flashes if you discharge the jar through the LED. I have a polarity detector that is two LEDs in antiparallel with two series resistors ending in points. A large jar will destroy a LED.

[camilarener1]

é agua que tem dentro do copo?

[acmdq2007]

É. Só água, com a corrente tocando nela.

[advthinker]

Great video! now for some fun you should paint numbers on the balls and have shutes that they can pop out and be seen just like a lotto machine.

[acmdq2007]

@mrconradhoppe The Earth forms a sort of capacitor having the ground as a plate and the higher parts of the atmosphere, that conduct electricity quite well, as the other.

[maintoc]

@acmdq2007 Many thanks for the reply & explanation.

[louisandtamsin]

So fucking cool. How do you make these?