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> The energy of the storm was actually exciting the gases in
> the bulb just as
> the electricity would usually do.

However, the bulb stayed lit, to an extent dimmer than full brightness, beyond the length of the storm.

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, marilyn hoyt <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: marilyn hoyt <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Simple Electric Phenomena
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Monday, March 21, 2011, 10:02 PM
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
> related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> The energy of the storm was actually exciting the gases in
> the bulb just as
> the electricity would usually do.  Lots of ways to do
> this cool experiment
> in a classroom.
> 
> On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 6:57 PM, Glenn A. Walsh <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> 
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
> Science-Technology Centers
> > Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums
> and related
> > institutions.
> >
> >
> *****************************************************************************
> >
> > 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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> 
> -- 
> Chicago:
> Marilyn Hoyt
> 511 Selborne Road
> Riverside, IL 60546
> 914-815-0671
> 
>  New York:
> Marilyn Hoyt
> 110 Sixth Avenue
> Pelham, NY 10803
> 914-815-0671
> 
> ***********************************************************************
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