Re: Classroom Projects with a TC?

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

Original poster: BunnyKiller <bunikllr-at-bellsouth-dot-net> 



Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: L8NOMOR-at-aol-dot-com
>Greetings All
>
>My son has an 8th grade science project coming up, and we have borrowed a 
>TC (6kv, 60ma nst).  We are subscribed to the E-mail list and have been 
>reading numerous writings about TC's.  All you coilers out there provide a 
>lot of very useful information. That is why we have come to you professionals.
>
>He is wondering if there are any great projects he can do with the coil, 
>other than just making streamers.  We have heard of coils being used to 
>light a fluorescent bulb, but don't know how to go about doing it 
>safely.  Any other help with projects would be greatly appreciated.  He is 
>wanting to WOW his classmates.
>
>And a technical safety question.  Do we need to make sure that the 
>capacitor circuit is completely discharged prior to touching the unit? If 
>so, how do we accomplish this?  The cap circuit is made from 15 panasonic 
>ac pulse capacitors.
>
>Thanks in advance for all your professional help and advice.
>Andrew and Garry

Hi Andrew and Gary...

first off...  its not the classmates that need to be "WOWED" ,   it's the 
judges/teachers that need to be impressed.  If he wants to "Wow" the 
classmates, just invite them over for a show with the coil.

The flourescent tube trick is an ok subject, but the reality of it deals 
with radio frequency hi voltage output that influences the gas in the 
tube...  is he willing to dig that deep to know "WHY" it does it?...
and report on it?

There is always the subject of Resonate Rise of voltages  ( which is a 
prime example of tesla Coiling) and how the voltages come to such hi levels 
due to the resonate rise...

you can probably do the "How well does it Really insulate" project by 
testing several different materials for insulative properties ( glass 
sheet, plastic sheet, Mica sheet)   place a wire on the toroid leading to 
the sample and a ground plate below the sample... see which insulator gets 
"punched thru" ( use different thicknesses) and explain why it failed or 
why it didnt....

somewhat more simple ( but realy doesnt need the use of a coil) is the 
ionization of gasses at atmospherical pressures....  why the color is what 
it is ( why is Lightning a blue/white color)  ...  electrons being forced 
to higher levels and jumping back down to ground states releasing photons 
at that specific wavelength and energy...  see laser applications...  ( 
check out Sams Laser FAQ's)

or how hi voltage electricity can produce ozone ( O3)  and other normally 
non existing gasses  ( NO2 - NO3  etc)

or if you are into real science....    show that the "skin effect" doesnt 
work with hi voltage hi frequency electricity by frying several gerbels and 
doing the autopsy and showing that the internal burns are prevalent thru 
the blood system and nervous system...  ;)   this will require a microscope 
...  ;)

Finally...   dont touch a coil when its running, dont contact the 
streamers, and dont touch the primary system untill you have discharged the 
Cap... ( see the last project listed) ...

Scot D