. How to make and use electricity ... is considered a com-monplace affair, and is simply used to demonstrate the laws offrictional electiicity. The Leyden jar derives its name from the place of its dis-covery. In the year 1746, while some philosophers of Leydenwere performing electrical experiments, one of them happenedto hold in one hand a tumbler partly filled with water to a wireconnected with the prime conductor of a friction the water was supposed to be sufficiently electrified, he 10 HOW TO MAKE AND attempted, with the other hand, to detach the wire from themachine; but as s
. How to make and use electricity ... is considered a com-monplace affair, and is simply used to demonstrate the laws offrictional electiicity. The Leyden jar derives its name from the place of its dis-covery. In the year 1746, while some philosophers of Leydenwere performing electrical experiments, one of them happenedto hold in one hand a tumbler partly filled with water to a wireconnected with the prime conductor of a friction the water was supposed to be sufficiently electrified, he 10 HOW TO MAKE AND attempted, with the other hand, to detach the wire from themachine; but as soon as he touched it, he received a powerfulelectric shock. It was by imitating this arrangement that the Leyden jar wasconstructed; for here was a glass cylinder, having good conduc-tors on both sides, viz., the hand on the outside, and the wateron the inside, which were prevented from communicating witheach other by the non-conducting power of the glass. A metalliccoating, as tin-foil or sheet lead, was substituted for the two con-. ductors, and a jar for the glass cylinder, and thus the electricaljar was constructed. In an age less enlightened than the pre-sent, and less familiar with the wonders of philosophy andchemistry, the striking and peculiar offects of electricity, usexhibited by the Leyden jar, would naturally excite great ad-miration and astonishment. Accordingly, showmen traveledwith the apparatus through the principal cities of Europe, andprobably no object of philosophical curiosity ever drew togethergreater crowds of spectators. It was this astonishing experi-ment which gave eclat to electricity. Everybody was eager tosee and feel the a green glass quart fruit-jar within and without, USE ELECTRICITY. 11 for about twothirds its length with tin foil, using flour pasteClose the mouth of the jar with a cork, and pour sealing-waxover it. Through the cork pass a stout brass or copper wire tillii touches the inner foil. Cast a lead bullet (a) on the ex
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectelectricity, bookyear
