Electrostatics and the Electron

Programme Outline

This programme investigates 'what you can do with electricity when it's not in wires'. Electrical machines can produce very high voltages to generate sparks. After the discovery of the electron a number of scientists discovered ways of using electricity to develop new technologies.

Demonstrations lead to an investigation of lightning in thunderstorms, and a simple explanation. A personal account of a lightning strike illustrates the dangers of electricity. Two applications of the idea of electric charge are shown, together with the precautions needed to avoid sparks near inflammable materials. The presenters demonstrate an important difference between sparks generated by a Wimshurst machine and by Tesla coils, using examples from well-known films and a popular television series.

00.00 - 02.01

Introduction, using flash photography and a montage of images of phenomena arising from the discovery of the properties of the electron.

02.01 - 04.25

A brief introduction to some of the researchers who helped develop electrical technology. Static electricity. 'Visible' electricity sparks.

04.25 - 06.00

A demonstration of electrostatic forces using a Wimshurst machine.

06.00 - 10.51

Thunderstorms: an explanation of lightning and its investigation by aircraft. A personal account of a lightning strike.

10.51 - 14.14

Some properties and uses of electrostatics. Refuelling aircraft; spark plugs; and paint spraying.

14.14 - 18.18

The Tesla coil, and the nature of the sparks generated. The 'light sabres' in Star Wars, and one of the tricks of Uncle Fester in The Addams Family, are explained by demonstration.

18.18 - end

A brief preview of Programme 2.