The Wimshurst machine, Jacob’s Ladder and Tesla coil will be run at regular intervals most Saturdays throughout the season (subject to availability of trained staff)
VAN de GRAAFF GENERATOR
This device generates approximately a quarter of a million volts of static electricity
which can be safely passed through the human body. Static electricity is all around
us, it is the stuff of electric storms and the reason why, sometimes, our hair will not
lay straight no matter how many times it’s brushed. We’ve all heard a click when
removing a nylon jumper, shirt or blouse and some may have seen the light blue
spark discharged. Static electricity builds up a ‘charge’ and, if not discharged as
a spark, will cause similarly charged, freely mobile objects to move away from each
other. Much the same as similar poles of magnets do. Hence the hair on our head
flies apart when charged.
The Van de Graaff generators will be run on Bank Holiday Mondays (subject to the availability of trained staff).
HANDS-
Will be available during some of the museum ‘special event days’
(The large Van de Graaff generator will also be demonstrated, subject to the availability of trained staff).
Please check in advance with John Narborough, via the Museum Office, before making a special journey.
AMBERLEY MUSEUM
The 2008 season
There are special event days occurring at the museum throughout the season. For more details of other events see the Amberley Museum Web Site. A link is available from the links section of this site and also from our home page.
Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia but lived in America for most of his adult life. Among his many ideas and inventions was his idea of transmitting electricity around the country using radio waves instead of wires, and while this system would have had some limited success, it would have severely impeded the development of conventional Radio and TV broadcasting, not to mention mobile phone technology and most forms of electronic device not very heavily shielded.
Our Tesla coil generates about a half million volts of radio frequency electricity, actually 200Khz, about the same as Radio 4 on long wave.
A small Wimshurst machine shows how like charges repel by “levitating” a small fragment
of tin-
Similar reasoning explains the foil tart cases being ‘ejected’ from the top of the boy’s head in this Van de Graaff machine experiment
- All ‘hands-
on’ experiments are safe for any member of the family to enjoy, however if you are concerned, please speak to a member of staff. - Some experiments may have some element of risk simply from a loud noise or other “surprise”. Please speak to a member of staff if you or a member of your party could be upset by being startled.
- Any experiment holding any real risk will only be carried out by a member of staff and behind protective barriers.