History Teaches - June 10

[azmouse]

June 10, 1752: Go fly a kite!

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
- Benjamin Franklin

On a stormy June afternoon in Philadelphia, Ben Franklin decided to fly a kite and conduct an experiment. He attached his kite to a silk string and tied an iron key at the other end. He then tied a thin metal wire to the key and inserted the wire into a Leyden jar, a container for storing an electrical charge. As a thunderstorm approached, he attached a silk ribbon to the key. Franklin held on to the kite by the silk ribbon and once it was aloft, he went into a barn so he could stay dry. The thunderstorm passed over Franklin's kite and the negative charges in the cloud passed into his kite, down the wet silk string to the key, and into the jar.

When Franklin moved his hand near the iron key, he received a shock. Franklin's experiment successfully showed that lightning was static electricity.

Several other scientists who performed the same experiment were electrocuted. Franklin can consider himself lucky.

[Born_A_Truman]

Quote:Several other scientists who performed the same experiment were electrocuted.

Franklin was very lucky!!

He was probably the originator of the current disclaimer "don't try this at home!"

[RoyGBiv]

(06-10-2011 09:42 AM)Born_A_Truman Wrote:  

Quote:Several other scientists who performed the same experiment were electrocuted.

Franklin was very lucky!!

He was probably the originator of the current disclaimer "don't try this at home!"

Ben Franklin, the original Mythbuster.

Wonder if he like 'splosions.