The Leyden jar is an electrostatic energy accumulator that uses a glass jar as an insulator between two conductive foils. Capacitors also use a dielectric to separate conductive plates, with larger surface areas resulting in higher capacitance values. The Kleist jar is similar to the Leyden jar but without an outer skin. Franklin bells transfer electric charges between bells using insulating wires and conductive chains.
The Leyden jar is a device that was used in the 1700s for the accumulation of electrostatic energy. Electrostatic particles are electrically charged particles that can remain relatively stationary in conductors or insulators. Sometimes called a “Leyden jar,” the Leyden jar used a glass jar that was and still is a popular insulating device. As in capacitors, the glass jar acted as a dielectric between two conductors and consisted of an inner and outer conductive foil. The thin foil formed easily to take the shape of the inside and outside of the glass jar.
Early capacitors used two conductive plates separated by an insulator called a dielectric. The larger the surface area of the capacitor plates, the higher the capacitance value was. It is best to limit the potential difference between the plates of a capacitor. As the voltage across the two plates increases, there is a point where arcing will form across the dielectric which will degrade the performance of the capacitor. In general, capacitors are used in power supply and signal filter circuits.
Usually, the outer film is in contact with the person performing an experiment on the Leyden jar. The inner foil is usually connected to an insulated inner conductive electrode that protrudes into the top of the Leyden jar. A chain at the bottom of this inner electrode usually connects it to the inner lamina. In the first experiments, water was poured into the jar to connect the electrode to the inner plate.
The Kleist jar was developed before the Leyden jar. It was very similar to the Leyden jar, but without the outer skin. The principle involved in holding electric charge was that electrically charged conductors, isolated from the earth, hold electric charge. If the electric potential in these conductors is high enough to ionize the surrounding air molecules, a corona discharge results. It can be seen in high voltage distribution equipment and other high voltage devices.
Franklin bells consist of a central bell that hangs from an insulating wire tied to the center of a conductive horizontal bar. At the ends of the horizontal bar are tied two lateral bells hung on conductive chains. As it stands, when an electric charge is made available to the central bell, a way is needed to transfer the charge to the side bells.
Additional coils tied to insulating wires on each side of the central bell provide the necessary charge transfer. When the bob has a neutral charge, it is attracted to the central bell. If the tension at the central bell and the weight is the same, there is repulsion and the weight is driven to the side bell. By connecting to the side bell, the bob’s charge is neutralized. As long as the Leyden jar supplies charges to the central bell, the weights continue to swing, causing the Franklin bells to ring continuously.
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