Table of Contents
Tesla Coil
Description
High voltage generator of historical interest designed almost 100 years ago!
Useful Links: The Museum of Science in Boston has a brief description on how these coils work. It is rumored that these coils were built by Tesla himself!
Danger:
This demo has a ground fault. Anything metal and in contact with the probe or the base should be assumed to be at high voltage. Use a ruler to turn the machine on or off to avoid a nasty shock. Be conscious of what the demo is sitting on- some floors have conductive runners underneath them which may transmit a shock to your feet.
This demo uses high voltage. Proceed with caution.
Purpose
To demonstrate the operation of a Tesla coil and the appearance, sound, and effects of high voltage discharges.
Apparatus
- Self-contained Tesla coil and probe
- Wooden ruler
- Fluorescent bulb (optional)
- Faraday Cage (optional)
Setup
Use a wooden ruler to hit the switch and turn on the coil. Long sparks up to eight inches long can be produced from the probe. These sparks produce a loud noise and look particularly dramatic when the lecture room lights are turned off.
Notes
This demonstration works well with a variety of others to demonstrate the effects of high voltage. A fluorescent bulb (mounted on the end of an insulating handle) can be used; when brought close to the probe it'll light up. This demo may also be used with the Faraday Cage.
Demo room information
| Location | in front of OPQ, some bulbs on meter sticks in Q4 |
| Maker | Unknown |
| Current State | Working |