Static electricity is just a lack or excess of electrons on the surface of an object.
One of the ways static electricity is generated is through the contact of two dissimilar objects. Many still remember the ebony stick experiment from school. If you rub it with hair, then part of the electrons will run onto the stick and the wool will remain charged positively, and the stick, due to an overabundance of electrons, will be negative and will be able to attract light objects.
In everyday life, this situation occurs, for example, when combing hair with a comb. You can even hear how electrostatic discharges crack. By the way, did you know that such clicks have a voltage of several thousand volts? It turns out that with the help of a conventional comb you can get just a huge voltage. Only here the charge that the comb can hold is very, very small. The charge from the comb can be accumulated elsewhere. For example, in the Leiden Bank. Leiden Bank is essentially the simplest capacitor. (Two conductors separated by an insulator.
Let's start manufacturing
Materials
A classic Leyden jar is usually made of a glass jar, but its walls are too thick and the charge is not very large. Therefore, we will use a plastic jar with thin walls. We will use food foil or chocolate foil as a conductor.
Step 1
The jar needs to be coated with an even layer of foil about two-thirds in height, including the bottom itself. Avoid large creases and tears.
Step 2
Now the same thing needs to be done from the inside, to the same height as the outer lining.
Step 3
In the center of the can, fix the foil receptacle, which should touch the foil inside the can. The upper part must be brought out of the can.
If you are too lazy to bother with pasting the inside of the can, you can simply pour the brine there exactly to the level to which the foil is glued on the outside. (The receiver should touch the water with one end
So, now we have where to accumulate the charge from the comb. To do this, grasp the outer casing with one hand and slide the charged comb with the other hand near the receiver.
You can discharge the jar on yourself by holding the lining with your hand and raising your finger to the receiver. And you can also make such a cool spark gap from a piece of foil, which will give a more even and beautiful spark.
Note: for a breakdown of 1mm of air, a voltage of one thousand volts is needed. By the way, air humidity critically affects the length of the spark (the drier you have in your apartment, the longer the spark will be).
That's it!
Thanks for attention!
Original video of the author: