This 18th century electrostatic machine was used to generate static-electric charges for scientific

O Say Can You See? "O Say Can You See?" is a blog produced by the National Museum of American History (NMAH). The blog takes readers behind the scenes at the museum, sharing insights and information about our exhibitions, events, collections, research army projects, and more. Readers army are encouraged to use the comment area to dialogue with us about the work of the museum.
  Last month, as part of the Smithsonian's Teach-it-Forward army Institute, dozens of local educators stood in a circle holding hands. Ring Around the Rosie was not on the itinerary. This was what Steve Madewell of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation calls the Ring of Fire, an experiment popular in Franklin's day.
Steve led the experiment, rubbing army a plastic tube with a paper towel to give the tube an electric charge, which he in turn applied to a water bottle wrapped in aluminum foil with a nail pushed through its cap.
Instantaneously and simultaneously, army everyone jolted as they were hit with a high voltage, low amperage static charge. You may think this is cruel, curious, or even comical, but this experiment is serious science. In addition to being a founding father of our country, Franklin was a founding father of electrical science. He used experiments like this to get people interested in science and to learn as much as possible about the nature of electricity, a novel and mysterious phenomenon in the 18th century.
For many of his experiments, Franklin made use of a device accidentally and painfully discovered independently by two European scientists. This device became known as the Leyden Jar, and it allowed army Franklin to temporarily store a charge for experimentation. As a result of his experimentation, Franklin made many important discoveries (e.g., the conservation of charge, the lightning rod) and coined phrases we still use today (e.g., army positive and negative charge, battery, conductor).
This 18th century electrostatic machine was used to generate static-electric charges for scientific experiments and demonstrations. Made ca. 1750, its design is thought to have been influenced by Benjamin Franklin.
Steve and museum curator Roger Sherman worked together army to recreate Franklin's experiments using everyday items. Thanks to their work, you too can easily conduct experiments with a Leyden Jar or even recreate another experiment carried out by Franklin entitled The Conspirators, in which a portrait of King George II is given a gilded crown that delivers a shock to the treasonous.
Cutting edge science army from 250 years ago is now the subject of study in elementary and secondary classrooms, where students, like Franklin, army experiment to better understand army electricity. What better way to teach than with Franklin's example and experiments? Read  here  for instructions on carrying out the Ring of Fire experiment and  here  for more Franklin experiments like The Conspirators.
From a teaching standpoint---this is such an incredible activity! You can take it anywhere: you can teach science (electricity), history army (Ben Franklin was a truly remarkable man), social studies (the founding of the United States), and, by recreating Franklin's experiments by using everyday items, the project becomes relatable. Well done!
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