Doctor Electro: the science behind the spectacle
Did you visit Doctor Elektro's circus of electromechanics? Were you introduced to their latest inventions? Then you might be wondering what these impressive devices are and how they work. Find out here!
Static-Stylist
The official name of the Static-Stylist is the Van de Graaff generator. Because yes, American physicist Robert Van de Graaff invented this clever device. When the Doctor turns this device on, something very simple but important happens inside: a belt rubs over rollers. And this is how electricity is generated. This kind of electricity is called static electricity.
How does it work?
All objects are made up of tiny particles. These can have an electric charge. As the belt rubs the roller you see below, electrically charged particles jump from the roller to the belt. The belt carries these upwards. That also causes electrically charged particles to go to the dome. More and more charged particles collect on the dome.
Did you take a seat on the chair? Then those particles travel via the wire and the chair to your body. They make your hair stand up. This is because those charged particles don't like being near each other at all. They repel each other, including the hairs on your head. So you get a super cool hairdo!
Lightning-Bunker
You may know the other name of our Lightning-Bunker. It is actually the famous Faraday cage! It was invented in 1836 by British scientist Michael Faraday.
A Faraday cage can be of all shapes and sizes - from a real cage to a metal suit you wear. The special thing about it? If you are inside it, you are protected from electrical discharges, such as lightning. Even if lightning strikes directly, you are safe. Not only that: the cage is also impervious to electromagnetic radiation, such as micro and radio waves. Unfortunately, that also means... no wifi in the Lightning bunker!
How does it work?
The metal of the cage can conduct electricity very well. When a lightning bolt hits the cage, the current travels across the outside of the cage and is safely dissipated to earth.
You've probably heard before that a car is also a safe place during thunderstorms. But... a car is not a perfect Faraday cage. For that, it would have to be made entirely of metal. However, a car is also made of plastics and glass, making it less efficient. For instance, you do still have Wi-Fi in the car. Fortunately, when lightning strikes, the current is often safely routed to the ground anyway, because the outside does consist mostly of metal.
Thunder-Orgel
This impressive device is also known as a tesla coil. Nikola Tesla invented it in 1891.
With our tesla coil, we can create electrical discharges or ‘lightning’. We do not do this by generating static electricity, as with the Van de Graaff generator, but with the current coming from your wall socket. We call it alternating current. Alternating current is current that keeps changing direction. With a tesla coil, you can convert low-voltage alternating current to a very high voltage. When the voltage is high enough, impressive lightning jumps through the air at the top. These make noise. By controlling the timing of the lightning, you can even make music.
How does it work?
Those lightning bolts are incredibly hot. They heat the air around them at lightning speed, causing it to expand. This causes vibrations in the air. Those vibrations move to your ears - and voilà, you hear sound! The pitch of that sound is determined by the number of lightning - i.e. vibrations - per second. Are there a lot of lightning bolts per second? Then you hear a higher tone. Are it fewer lightning bolts per second? Then you hear a lower tone.
An electronic control system in the tesla coil controls how often the lightning discharges and when it discharges. By cleverly programming this, our tesla coil can play complete melodies. So the music is literally made by thunder!
Renewable energy
The ENGIE Foundation is a very important partner of Doctor Elektro and Technopolis. Not only did our show come about thanks to their financial support, but - like the doctor - they are committed to a bright, carbon-neutral future. With innovative solutions, ENGIE aims to produce more renewable energy and develop storage capacities. Did you know they want to reach as much as 2,500 MW of renewable energy by 2030? If that's not a nice goal!
Does ENGIE also generate renewable energy near you? Find out on their website.
Want to know more about the science behind the show or those clever inventions? Then don't hesitate to send an email to info@technopolis.be. We will be happy to send you more detailed information.