Static electricity was a popular subject for research in the eighteenth century. In the machine shown in Figure 1, a rotating glass plate rubs against a piece of leather to produce a separation of charge and hence a potential difference (voltage) between the leather and glass. To the left of Figure 1 is a Leyden jar, used to store the ‘electricity’ produced by the machine, and a corked bottle, known as Volta’s pistol, which contained explosive gases that could be ignited by a spark from the machine to eject the cork and produce a bang.
The Leyden jar (Figure 2) was invented in 1746 and is the forerunner of modern capacitors. A glass jar is lined with metal foil, which is connected to a metal rod, and wrapped in another foil layer, which is earthed. The potential difference between the foils can reach several hundred volts, and a charged Leyden jar can deliver a serious electric shock.
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