How to Make a Neon Bulb Light Up Using Static Electricity
An interesting experiment to help youngsters understand how electricity works is to get them to light a small neon bulb using static electricity. Small neon lightbulbs on copper sticks are ideal for this experiment. These lightbulbs are better than other bulbs because they use a lot of voltage and very little amperage. As the Colorado State Littleshop Physics website article "Static Flash" points out, you can create up to 10,000 volts by scuffing your feet on a carpet. Fortunately it is the amperage which is the very dangerous part of electricity and there is very little of this in static electricity, although there is enough to light these neon bulbs.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Buy a small neon lightbulb. They are found in most electrical supply shops.
-
2
Attach your neon bulb to the middle of your strip of copper with some electrical tape. The strip of copper should be approximately 1/2-inch wide and 3 inches long. Ensure the base of the bulb has good contact with the copper strip.
-
-
3
Hold one end of the copper strip in your hand and scuff your feet on the carpet for a few seconds.
-
4
Touch the other end of the copper strip to a metal door handle, for example, and your lightbulb will light up. Copper is one of the best metallic conductors, so is ideal for this experiment. The static electricity will run from the person through the copper strip, lighting the bulb when the electrical circuit is completed.
-
5
Elaborate on the experiment by trying different sources of static electricity, like combing your hair or rubbing a balloon against it. You can also see what happens when multiple people who are statically charged hold on to the copper strip. The bulb should glow more brightly with a greater source of electricity, until it is at full power.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Small neon lightbulbs are easily found for sale online, often advertised as "human-powered" lightbulbs, that will light up just by being held by one of the two base wires while you scuff your feet across the carpet. Make the room as dark as possible so that the glow from the lightbulb can be seen clearly.
Don't put these neon lightbulbs into an electrical socket. You will get a very nasty electric shock.
References
- Photo Credit lighted lightbulb image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
