Franklin - Kite & lightning

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) - American scientist who paved the way for research in the field of electricity. He explained the phenomenon of electrostatic induction, he divided the charge into positive and negative electricity. Through experiments he demonstrated that electricity generated when lightning strikes and electricity made by workers in the factory were essentially the same, he invented the lightning rod. At the same time, he was a great political activist, once involved in drafting

"The Declaration of Independence of the United States", along with Washington, built the "Constitution of the United States". People often say that he is "taking lightning from the sky, gaining human rights from the tyrant".

In a June afternoon in 1752, the sky was hot, the sky was covered with gray clouds, everyone expected to have a cool shower! But there is no sign of rain yet.

A moment later, from the horizon of the dark cloud, the storm came, followed by a storm of wind, a flash of lightning rippling the sky, the raging rain came. The weather Franklin expected came! He wanted to take advantage of such weather to fly kites as experiments.

He had long wanted to conduct electricity from the cloud down to prove: The lightning in the sky and the electricity made by workers were essentially the same. But having to use something that leads up to the sky to conduct electricity is what he wonders.

Because he flew kites for experiments in a thunderstorm, he used silk instead of kite paper. From the top of the kite he tied a sharpened metal wire like a needle to suck electricity. Wire kite as electrical wire. At the end of the wire is connected to the silk wire as an insulator, the experimenter takes the silk cord so that when the power is down, there will be no electric shock. Between the kite wire and Franklin silk cord hangs a key.

Franklin told Willam, his son would do the experiment today, and asked him to help him do the experiment.

The son suspiciously asked his father: "Isn't this very dangerous?" He is not very interested in doing this experiment, but still agrees to help his father.

So the father and son quietly took the kite to the grassland not far from the house, where there was a small hut that could avoid the rain.

The wind is getting stronger, this is an opportunity to fly kites.

Franklin left the rain to stay in the tent, and I did not manage the storm and thunderstorms running out to launch kites into the air. He quickly went to the tent and handed the kite to his son.

At this time a flash of lightning appeared as if to tear the sky apart, the kites still traveling on nothing like nothing happened. Another lightning flashed through, followed by a deafening thunderbolt, rain falling.

Kites and wires are all wet.

"Run into the house quickly, don't let rain water wet the hand-held silk wire" - Franklin told his son. He alone sat under a small tent overlooking the kite.

Still not having any movement.

Franklin told his son: William, be careful! The kite string is about to touch the roof of the tent, it will be dangerous. "

At this time the rain has not stopped but the sky has become clearer, thunder has also faded away. The lightning flashes still running in the sky.

Suddenly William exclaimed:

"Look, father!" - The boy pointed to the kite - "The threads on the kite line are all up."

"Really? I don't have the same eyes as you do."

Franklin strained his eyes to see clearly, wasn't it right? Just the lightning is the thread on the kite wire are erected. This is electricity.

He raised his finger and moved up and down the kite line, the miraculous thing appeared, the feathers on the kite line also tilted up and down according to his fingers.

Out of shock, William also showed interest: "Good, father, they know how to dance".

"I will see even more interesting things!" - Franklin said happily.

He clenched his fist, carefully bringing it close to the key hanging in the connection between the kite string and the silk cord. PLEASE! From there turned out small sparks, hitting his hand, he felt the numbness quickly withdraw his hand.

"What are you doing?" - William saw it and asked.

Franklin was very happy: "It's okay, our experiment has been successful! Do you know? Heavenly lightning and electricity made by workers are one."

This is an experiment in Franklin's world.

"Today's work can be done until tomorrow" - Franklin
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Read: " Franklin - Conquer fire god "