The Leyden Jar
In 1745, scientists figured out how to trap electricity in a jar. It scared them to death. Today, we call it a “Capacitor.” It’s the component that starts your AC unit and fires your camera flash.
You can build the original version in 5 minutes.
The Parts:
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A plastic cup (Solo cup works).
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Aluminum foil.
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A nail or a paperclip.
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A balloon (to generate the charge).
The Build:
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The Outside: Wrap the outside of the cup in foil. Tape it tight.
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The Inside: Crumple up loose balls of foil and fill the cup halfway.
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The Terminal: Poke a nail through the lid (or tape it to the side) so it dangles down and touches the inner foil balls.
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Crucial Rule: The inner foil and outer foil must never touch. The plastic cup is the wall between them.
The Trap: Rub a balloon on your hair until it’s crackling. Touch the balloon to the nail. Do this 10 times. You are pumping electrons into the jar. Now, hold the outer foil with one hand and bring your other finger close to the nail.
The Result: Snap. A visible blue spark. A sharp zap. You just released stored energy. That isn’t magic; that’s a capacitor discharging.
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