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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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>
>
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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