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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
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