June 15: Benjamin Franklin performs the first lightning experiment with kite wings

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin performed lightning experiments in a very famous atmosphere.

He tied a kite into a house pillar, where he also tied a key. Then, the thunderstorm struck, the rain began to torrid, wetting the kite's rope. The lightning at that time was also very scary, hitting the kite.

Due to being wet, the kite has the ability to conduct electricity . Franklin had touched the key and felt a slight electric shock. After that, he used the Leyden jar to charge and stored a large amount of electricity. Benjamin Franklin performed this experiment with his son, William Franklin.

Experiment with lightning with a very famous kite wing of Benjamin Franklin.

Fortunately for Benjamin because a year later, the German-born Russian physicist Georg Wilhelm Richmann was struck by lightning.

Thanks to the above experiment, Benjamin Franklin boldly used the first lightning rod in Philadelphia. After several stormy days, his house, where the lightning rod was located, was unaffected. Seeing that, the people of Philadelphia also followed. Gradually, lightning rod became popular.

The lightning rod only works when there is a thunderstorm. At that time, the clouds had a negative charge and the ground had a positive charge. There is a great difference between the cloud and the ground. Then, lightning is formed. The protrusions on the ground are like spikes where the strongest electric field is located. After forming, lightning will hit those places the most.

Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod invention was displayed at the museum.

Because of the high and sharp points, the lightning rod will have a large electric field, so lightning will hit it. After being struck by lightning, it led the current down to the ground. The current will be neutralized to electricity, because at this time the earth has a positive charge, while the current in the lightning rod is negatively charged.

Not only a scientist, Benjamin Franklin is also a politician. He is also one of the most famous country founders of the United States . He came up with the idea of ​​a United States and as a diplomat during the American Revolution, he made the alliance a French help to gain independence.