E-16. Electrically Charged Student

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The discussion centers around a physics demonstration where a student, standing on an insulated platform, becomes electrically charged by being struck with fur, allowing him to create sparks from his body. This experiment illustrates static electricity and culminates in the student igniting a gas from a grounded Bunsen burner using the generated spark. The conversation shifts to a reference from the drama series "X-Files," where a character demonstrates a similar ability to manipulate electricity at a distance, with one participant recalling a specific episode where a character attracts lightning to charge himself. The humorous aspect of the student's later reenactment of the experiment at parties, including igniting gas with a Zippo and inviting friends to participate in the fur-striking experiment, adds a lighthearted tone to the discussion.
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"If a student stands on an insulated platform - an inverted battery jar will do - and is struck several times on the back with a piece of fur, his body becomes charged to a potential of several thousand volts above ground, and a 2 cm spark can be drawn from knuckles or ear, greatly to the amusement of the class. If the student holds a key tightly in his hand, sparks may be drawn from the key without causing him discomfort. The instructor may present to him a grounded Bunsen burner and let him ignite the gas by the spark."

-Demonstration Experiments in Physics

Richard Manliffe Sutton, Ph. D.

McGraw-Hill, 1938
 
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Once in an episode of a drama serial "X file", I saw a person who was able to demonstrate the superhuman ability to use his body charge to react with things at a distance.

Does anyone knows which episode it was?
 
zoobyshoe said:
"...The instructor may present to him a grounded Bunsen burner and let him ignite the gas by the spark."
Following graduation the student reenacted this glory day at parties by igniting the gas with a Zippo. :smile:
 
ElectroPhysics said:
Once in an episode of a drama serial "X file", I saw a person who was able to demonstrate the superhuman ability to use his body charge to react with things at a distance.

Does anyone knows which episode it was?
This is very creepy. This very episode aired tonight after you posted about it. The kid would go out into the cow pasture at night and attract lightning to charge himself up.
 
BoulderHead said:
Following graduation the student reenacted this glory day at parties by igniting the gas with a Zippo. :smile:
And by inviting partygoers to flog him with a piece of fur.
 
zoobyshoe said:
And by inviting partygoers to flog him with a piece of fur.
If they dared to get near ! :biggrin:
 

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