Drake Anthony Recreates the Mechanical Bulb First Seen in 1675 – TechEBlog
4 hours ago
- #barometric light
- #science experiment
- #friction-generated light
- Drake Anthony attempts to replicate 'barometric light', a 17th-century phenomenon where a mercury barometer glows when stirred.
- The glow occurs due to friction: mercury moving over glass leaves an electric charge that excites gas molecules, emitting light without external power.
- Anthony creates a glass flask, evacuates it to low pressure, adds mercury, and observes a faint glow when shaken in darkness, limited by impure mercury.
- Adding neon gas at around 100 torr significantly brightens the light, making it visible in normal room lighting and easing the discharge process.
- Experiments with materials like copper pellets work well for friction-based light, while Teflon produces sparks and Galinstan (liquid metal alloy) fails due to sticking.
- Using a curved tube enhances charge buildup compared to a straight one, and adding a Tesla coil creates impressive plasma displays with color zones.