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I observed an interesting electric phenomenon while rooming in a private home during college in the 1970s. I was provided an old-style fluorescent desk lamp in my room, which partially activated every time there was an electrical storm outdoors. The fluorescent light would not go to maximum brightness during an electrical storm, it would only light to a dimmer level, but definitely on and stayed on. Obviously, the electrical storm activated some alternate electric path (bypassing the switch) for some of the electricity to reach the bulb.
In a somewhat different situation... I grew-up living only a few miles from the transmitter tower of Pittsburgh's historic 50,000 watt radio station, KDKA-AM. Every time we used our telephone, we could hear the KDKA radio programs, in a low volume, on our telephone line.
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
< http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
< http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
< http://incline.pghfree.net >
* Public Transit:
< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >
--- On Mon, 3/21/11, Jeff Rosenblatt <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From: Jeff Rosenblatt <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Simple Electric Phenomena
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Monday, March 21, 2011, 6:22 PM
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
> related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> I experienced a cool electric phenomena over the
> weekend. My niece has one of those touch lamps in her
> room. It has 4 light settings: dim, medium,
> bright, off. Last weekend, I gave her an
> ‘electra’ sculptured plasma lamp. She placed the
> plasma lamp on another desk about 10 feet away from the
> touch lamp. She then discovered every time she placed
> her hand on the plasma lamp the touch lamp would activate
> and go through the 4 light settings….even though she was
> 10 feet away.
>
> 1st touch on the plamsa lamp would turn on dim for the
> touch lamp, 2nd touch turned on medium light, 3rd touch
> bright, 4th touch off. If she pointed her free hand
> directly at the touch lamp, it worked every time. If
> she pointed her free hand away, it didn’t always
> work. If the plasma lamp moved further than 10 or 15
> feet, it wouldn't work at all.
>
> So I figured the electric field from the plasma lamp was
> enough to activate the touch lamp. The field also
> could be directed by one's free hand. Not sure on any
> other proper science explanation. I know for Van de
> Graaff demos a volunteer can direct the charge and electric
> field with their free hand. So now I will have to try
> a Van de Graaff and Tesla Coil to see if a similar result
> occurs. Please share any similar experiences if you
> have them.
>
> --Jeff--
>
> Jeff Rosenblatt
> Director, Science City
>
> Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
> 30 W. Pershing Rd. Suite 850
> Kansas City, MO 64108
> Office: 816-460-2218
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
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