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n Beforenthe United States even existed, when the 13 American colonies werenstill loyal to England, people knew about electricity but didn’t usenit other than for parlor tricks. There was no such thing, of course,nas lightbulbs and wall sockets and electrical plugs and cords. Whatnpeople knew about electricity was the stuff we call “staticnelectricity.”
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| This is Franklin’s invention to create and collect static electricity in Leyden jars. |
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nOnencolonist that was seriously “into” fun tricks—and seriouslyninto science, too—was Benjamin Franklin. In 1749, disappointed thatnhe had not yet invented something electrical that was useful fornhumankind, Franklin amused himself by having guests over for annelectrical turkey barbecue. According to APS Physics:
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n“Henkilled a turkey by electrical shock, then roasted it using thenelectrical jack, an electric device he invented that would rotate thenturkey as it roasted before a fire, which was kindled by annelectrified bottle. Guests drank from electrified glasses that gaventhem a small shock as they sipped their wine, and were entertained asnsparks were sent across the river. Franklin also devised a gamencalled “treason,” which involved an electrified portrait of thenking, with a removable gilt crown. The picture was rigged so thatnanyone who tried to remove the crown while holding the gilt edge ofnthe picture would be shocked.”
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nButnon this date in 1750, Franklin tried again to electrocute a turkey bynthe shock from two large Leyden jars, instead he received the shocknhimself! Others said that they heard a large crack and saw a hugenflash—but Franklin himself didn’t see or hear anything, since henwas shocked senseless. When he came to, he was shaking, but graduallynhis senses returned. He felt a bit of numbness at first, but thatnwent away, and soreness, too, but that went away as well.
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WenAmericans are lucky that Franklin did not kill himself in thisnelectrical mistake! Of course Franklin is well known for hisnsuccessful experiment flying a kite during an electrical storm—thenexperiment that proved that lightning is electricity—and forninventing the lightning rod.
WenAmericans are lucky that Franklin did not kill himself in thisnelectrical mistake! Of course Franklin is well known for hisnsuccessful experiment flying a kite during an electrical storm—thenexperiment that proved that lightning is electricity—and forninventing the lightning rod.n
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nExperimentnwith static electricity!
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nTrynthe activities at Science Kidsnor Zoom.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nAnniversary of a man crossing the ocean with no food
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nLinguistnJean-Francois Champollion’s birthday
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nNightnof the Radishes
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nFestivus—thenHoliday for the Rest of Us
