RE: kVA Effects on Discovery Channel

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com> 



I disagree.  The target audience of the DISCOVERY channel is not
technically trained individuals.  Although we
may think its an educational program, the sole purpose for its creation
is profit and entertainment.  Also,
trying to explain in detail exactly what is going on and how voltage and
current relates often "goes over
the average person's head", may bore the person, and ultimately cause
that individual to lose interest. Their goal is to keep the audience
interested and keep the technical knowledge to a minimum.

 > Hate to sound like an
 > old geezer at age 21, but this kind of crap is the reason America's
 > children don't pay attention to science and technology these days.
 > Society tells them the details aren't important and they don't have to
 > understand it or know anything about it.

I vehemently disagree with this statement.  Again, you are assuming a
child is intelligent enough to
understand the difference between volts, current, etc... One of the most
important thing in getting a child
interested in science and technology is exposure.  Even if the
explanations are incorrect, it is ultimately
the exposure of seeing a tesla coil working, etc... that provides the
true inspiration.  Once inspired, the
child can then choose to learn more about the device in question on his
own or by continuing his/her education in a science related degree.

I have done a number of demonstrations with high voltage equipment to
children from age 10 up to high school
level.  My demonstrations are always a huge hit among the students and
believe me, they don't have to know all the gritty details about how
they work to be inspired.

Dan