AC vs. DC High Voltage Current Generator

Antique Dissectible Leyden Jar (HV Capacitor) - Model LT-50 Thunder and Lightning Floor Exhibit

Visitors charge up a pair of large antique “Leyden Jar” high voltage condensers (capacitors). The high voltage Leyden Jars discharge stored energy from an acrylic, air-brushed, overhead thundercloud, into the lightning rod which protects a miniature house from the damaging effects of direct lightning strikes. Visitors learn the physics concepts of voltage, current, how lightning is formed inside a thundercloud, and how lightning rods can protect tall buildings from damage. In addition to the experiments, the audio presentation guides the visitor’s experiences to insure educational content is received.

This exhibit is activated independently by each visitor as they press a colorful pushbutton to activate the audio presentation, and charge the capacitor. After the brief audio presentation, the visitor is urged to press a red discharge button that will discharge the high voltage capacitor.

This exhibit measures 52 inches x 38 inches x 52 inches high (133 cm x 97 cm x 132 cm) and operates off a standard 120 VAC, 60 Hertz electric outlet. European 220 Volt, 50 Hertz models are also available. Model LT-50 Lightning and Thunder floor exhibit weighs 155 lbs.

Antique Theater-of-Science © Presentations

This exhibit is designed for the smaller museum that can not justify the expense of a large Theater-of-Science but still requires a quality stage presentation for their visitors.

Our antique Theater-of-Science© exhibit group consists of:
200,000 volt Tesla Coil - Transformer Resonance
400,000 volt Van de Graaff Generator
3 ft. (91cm) High Jacob's Ladder / Climbing Arc System
8 ft. ( 2.4m) Antique Laboratory Table with Glassware
Antique Leyden Jar with discharger
Faraday’s Handcrank Electromagnetic Generator
Cathode Ray/Geissler Tube Display with Power Supply

Aurora Borealis Tube Display

Video 01

The “Northern Lights” appear before your very eyes. How does the earth’s magnetic field interact with emitted solar particles to form the Aurora Borealis? Visitors experiment with high voltage and high energy magnetic fields to discover both “Northern” and Southern” lights and their unique differences.

How solar particles interact with earth’s magnetic field
How magnetic fields and high voltage charged particles interact
How “atom smashers” work

Create the Aurora Borealis in your museum
Demonstrate magnetic / electric interactions
Demonstrate solar flares and electrified particles
Illustrate electron beam / cathode ray tube magnetic interaction
Extreme plasma brilliance due to our special gas mixtures

Battle of the Giant Magnets “invisible magnetic fields”

Battle your friends with invisible magnet fields and experience their raw power. Twist and turn, push and pull giant magnets to see and feel their force fields. Magnets attract and repel. Magnetic fields are invisible.

Bridge-of-Fire© Electrostatic Exhibit

An interactive dazzling display of electrostatic energy. Experiment with the electric charge on the interior of a thundercloud. A mirror allows you and friends to view your hair in this “hair-standing” experiment.

Although high-voltage electric charges and forces are not visible, you can “feel” their effects.

Basic law of electrostatics

A fun learning experience for the entire family
Charges up to six visitors simultaneously
Play with electrostatic charges with complete safety
Experience the power of the interior of a thundercloud

Cathode Rays

Explore applications of Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT’s) - the very heart of all televisions and computer monitors. Visitors vary magnetic field strength to see the effects on high energy charged beams of high-voltage electric particles.

Coil Gun - Rail Gun

Coaxial Electromagnetic Mass Accelerator (CEMA)
Accelerates projectile using only magnetic fields
Projectile velocity over 600 miles per hour
Shatters concrete bricks over 40 feet from the gun

Crackle tube - Lightning tube

Video 01

Crackle tubes are a special type of plasma globe. Crackle tubes have a filling of glass beads the are especially treated with chemical coatings to produce spectacular colors including very bright green, orange, red, coral pink, blue, and purple. The beads are electrified by high voltage charges and become partial semiconductors that are activated by the high frequency electrical charge produced by a solid state Tesla coil. Resonance Research Corporation Crackle tubes are available in standard 48 inch (122 cm) x 6 inch (16 cm) size and also may be stacked in vertical or horizontal columns as high as 60 feet (20 m).

Crackle tubes are highly interactive to the touch and this exhibit is a favorite among children.

Crackle tubes are similar to Geissler tubes or Crookes tubes with an important difference: the Crackle tubes are filled with glass beads that have special chemical coatings that react to high frequency electrical charges. Modern Crackle tubes and lightning tubes are very long and quite large in diameter. As children touch the tubes there is a very spectacular and personal interaction. Each interaction is different as the interaction depends on a persons total body capacitance which varies directly with the entire surface area of your body. Each person has a different total body area so the spectacular reaction is unique and different for each child.

Modern Crackle tubes feature microprocessor controlled high voltage, high frequency power supplies in which the frequency and power levels are continuously sweep across a band ranging from 10 kHz thru 60 kHz. This sweeping effect thru the gases in the Crackle tube provides unique and ever-changing electrified patterns in the gas mixture within the globe. Similar techniques are also applied to long cylinders known as Lightning tubes.

Modern Crackle tubes contain special gas mixtures including neon, argon, krypton, xenon, helium, and other easily electrified gases. The enclosed gases exist in the third state of matter: gas. When electrified by miniature microprocessor controlled solid state Tesla coils, a unique fourth state of matter is created: plasma. Plasma means “electrified gas”. The continuous change of power levels and frequencies in the Crackle tube causes it to have a unique and changing character. The electrified gas (plasma) is always seeking a ground to release its energy. As you touch the glass Crackle tube your hand represents a ground and some of the energy is directly thru the glass walls of the vessel. This allows you to interact directly with the electrified gas without receiving an electric shock.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures 4 different sizes of Crackle tubes. Tubes are available in a standard size of 48 x 6 inch (122 cm x 16 cm) sizes. All of our Crackle tubes are powered by a special type of high voltage, high frequency, power supply that continuously sweeps across a narrow band of frequencies from 10 kHz thru 60 kHz. This frequency sweeping technique provides a very special type of plasma that is very active within the sphere.

RRC also manufactures long Crackle tube columns that contain spectacular electrical “bolts of lightning”. Common size is 48 inches (122 cm) x 6 inch (16 cm). These plasma cylinders can be stacked to produce either vertical or horizontal columns as high as 60 feet (20 m). Colors include red, green, blue, orange, coral pink, and violet. Green offers the best spectral response to the human eye and is seen as the brightest of these colors. The coral pink Crackle tube color also looks very interesting and is a favorite among children.

Crackle tubes and lightning tubes offer a higher degree of safety than open air Tesla coils and Ruhmkorff induction coils because these long tubes contain all of the electrical energy within the glass walls of the tube so there is no danger of high voltage electrical shock.

Crackle tubes and lightning tubes operate off a standard 120 VAC electrical outlet. Special models are also available for the European standard of 220 VAC, 50 Hertz.

Crookes Tubes

Crookes continued his investigations in highly exhausted tubes and concluded that “some type of matter” was being accelerated to very high velocities. Crookes discovered the new rays of “radiant matter” (known today as electrons) traveled in straight lines, cast shadows when intercepted by solid matter, are capable of turning a small paddle wheel, and could be deflected by a magnet. Crookes called this “radiant matter” a new fourth state of matter (today electrified gases are know as plasma).

Crookes also produced very long evacuated tubes which became known as Crookes tubes. Other forms of Crookes tubes were in exotic “twisted and contorted” shapes that made them very beautiful to observe in the dark. Crookes tubes were typically powered by Ruhmkorff induction coils or other forms of high voltage transformers.

Not long afterward, in 1895, William K. Rontgen (1845-1923) noted a Crookes tube when attached to an induction coil would cause nearby barium-platino-cyanide crystals to fluorescence. These crystals would even florescence after the eminations from the Crookes tubes were blocked with black paper, wood, or aluminum.

Rontgen continued his experiments with Crookes tubes and discovered that high speed electrons impinging on tungsten electrodes in an evacuated Crookes tube or Geissler tube, produced X-rays. The new mysterious radiation, which Rontgen coined “X-rays”, would also produce photographs of human bones, a discovery that later lead to modern X-ray techniques and medical treatments.

Rontgen developed a curved cathode which allows X-rays to be focused sharply to produce higher contrast and detail in X-ray photographs.

X-rays are also used to check teeth for cavities, treat cancer, and allow doctors to “see inside” the human body without cutting it open.

Electric Swing

Demonstrates electric / magnetic field interactions. These basic laws form the basis for early investigations in to the inter-changeability of electric and magnetic fields and their function in modern electromechanical devices including early telegraphs, electric motors, and solenoids.
Electric currents effect/Interact with magnetic fields.
Electric and magnetic forces combine to produce motion.

Electromagnetic Repulsion Coil

James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish theorectical physicist, developed a series of equations that completely describe the relationships between electricity and magnetism. A central part of Maxwell’s equations state that “every electric field creates a magnetic field and every magnetic field creates an electric field”.

One unique factor of Maxwell’s equations states the any magnetic field that induces another magnetic field will produce a magnetic field of opposite polarity. This reversing factor has some interesting possibilities. This magnetic induction effect is the basic operating principle of all transformers, induction coils, and Tesla coils.

If a large current of electricity flows thru a wire it will set up a powerful electric field around the wire. A nearby closed loop, such as an aluminum ring, when intercepted by this magnetic field will, in accordance with Maxwell’s equations, produce a powerful flow of electric current. Since every electric current produces a magnetic field, the aluminum ring produces a very powerful magnetic field which is of opposite polarity to the electric field. The result is a very powerful repulsion between the two magnetic fields. If the first coil is solidly mounted to a base, the free aluminum ring will suddenly “jump” high into the air. The magnetic field in the ring repels the magnetic field produced by the coil. Resonance Research Corporation manufactures two powerful forms of repulsion coils (jumping rings).

RRC model RP-100 Repulsion Coil produces over 1,000 Amperes of instantaneous electric current which produces a very powerful magnetic field. The strong opposing field in an aluminum ring causes it to be thrown high into the air and a selected visitor waits with a baseball glove to catch the falling ring. In a typical Repulsion coil demonstration the ring is fired into the air 4 or 5 times and is caught by a visitor. The base of the repulsion coil is tilted 5 degrees which causes the ring to return to earth approximately 3 feet away from the coil --- the exact spot the visitor with a baseball glove is waiting.

The second repulsion coil machine does not require a demonstrator. This machine allows two visitors to fire an aluminum ring back and forth between two separate coils. This repulsion coil system, our model RP-200, is a repulsion coil game of magnetic ping-pong. One repulsion coil fires the ring up and over a circular wooden pole, and the ring lands on the top of the second repulsion coil. The visitor’s friend then presses a colorful pushbutton which fires the ring back across the wood pole where it lands on the first coil. The first visitor fires it back and this action continues rapidly. Children have a lot of fun using the “ping pong” magnetic repulsion coil.

Both repulsion coil models, RP-100 and RP-200 operate off a standard 120 VAC electric outlet. Export models for operation on 220 VAC, 50 Hertz are available.

Electromagnetic Soda Can Crusher

Video 01 | Video 02

Uses only electromagnetism to crush a common soda can.
Timing controls for push button charging and firing.
Produces over 50,000 amperes of electricity.
A very spectacular display of electromagnetism and capacitors.
Children love it

Electromagnetics & Their Interactions With Materials

Some materials are magnetic . . . . .some are not. Hands-on interactive experiments with an electromagnet and various materials that are ferromagnetic, diamagnetic and paramagnetic.

How electromagnets work.

Electricity produces magnetic fields.
Magnetic forces effect materials.

Electronics in your Car

“Hands-on” operation of a high-voltage induction coil to fire “giant spark plugs” illustrates how the principle of electric transformers helps modern automobiles operate. Visitors push colorful buttons to activate the giant high-voltage induction coil, which fires across the spark plugs with a brilliant flash.

Energy in Motion

Michael Faraday’s Law of Induction and the physics of transformers. Discover how voltages and currents are “induced” into nearby coils to produce different values of voltage and current.

Fighting the Load

Discover the concept of electrical resistance and load distribution control in this series of experiments. A bicycle generator allows visitors to feel the actual power necessary to generate electrical currents when different loads are applied. Guests change loads to match the energy the cyclist is willing to provide.

Fly the Airplane

Discover Bernoulli’s Law while flying an airplane wing. Visitors vary the speed of a large fan to see the effect of airflow across a curved surface. An electronic solid-state timer controls the event.

Flying Saucer Experiment

Your visitor discovers the basic laws of electronic repulsion as he actually “flies” a small UFO using high voltage charges and Coulomb’s Law of Electrostatic Repulsion.
Demonstrates a powerful concept of modern physics.

Guessing the Gases

Spectral gas analysis – discover the principles of the spectroscope as visitor triggers high voltage capacitors charge to activates various gas elements in a sealed tube. A high voltage charge produces light of different colors for different types of gases.

Various gases react differently to electricity

High voltage charge can stimulate gas molecules

Experiments with high energy “Geissler tubes” lead to the discovery of atomic structure and energy

Geissler Tube

Heinrich Geissler (1814-1879), a glass blower and instrument maker in Tubingen, Germany, began preparing evacuated glass tubes with such great skill the tubes were named in his honor, Geissler tubes.

Geissler was among the first experimenter to connect the newly developed high voltage Ruhmkorff induction coil to a glass tube in which the air had been pumped out. The high voltage charges produced very unusual effects and florescenses on the walls of the evacuated Geissler tubes. The plasma formed in the Geissler tubes took on beautiful properties especially when the tubes were constructed of borosilicate glass. At high vacuums the glass itself began to florescence. Later investigations by Crookes and Rontgen lead to the development of modern X-ray tube technology.

Geissler tubes were constructed in many unusual shapes and featured unusual types of glass that had different florescenses. Some of the Geissler tube shapes includes both large and small circular bulbs, triangular shaped forms, and sine curve type forms. Many Geissler tubes used different types of glass and some Geissler tubes had fills of various different types of gases which produced many beautiful colors and effects now commonly viewed in plasma globes. Plasma globes are large diameter glass globes in which various gas mixtures are excited by high frequency Tesla coils. These solid state microprocessor controlled plasma globes use Tesla coils that allow the drive frequency to continuously vary, i.e. “sweep”, across a broad spectrum band between 15 kHz and 50 kHz. This sweeping frequency Tesla coil pattern creates varied and interesting patterns within the plasma globes and crackle tubes.
Resonance Research Corporation manufactures a wide variety of Crookes tubes, Geissler tubes, Plasma Globes, Crackle tubes, Crackle cylinders, and Lightning cylinders all of which are activated by a high frequency microprocessor controlled, Tesla coil oscillator. This type of high voltage excitation allows the Plasma globes to display beautiful and ever-changing patterns within the large globes. Standard plasma globe sizes include 18 inch, 22 inch, 24 inch, and 30 inch. Plasma cylinders and crackle tubes are available in standard lengths of 6” diameter x 48” (16 x 122 cm). Crackle tubes and plasma cylinders may be stacked to allow formations as high as 60 feet (20 m). Plasma globes, Plasma cylinders, and Crackle tubes may also be placed in horizontal formations with width of 6 feet (2 m) to 60 feet (20m).

Gravity Well

Imagine . . . . .

You are a moon circling Jupiter. Or, perhaps a comet passing by our sun. What force holds you in your long elliptical orbit?

Gravity, of course, but what is gravity?

Gravity, as described in the rich mathematics and physics of Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, is essentially a kind of “warping” of space and time. Such warping causes a large object such as a planet to attract another nearby object, such as a moon, or passing comet. As the rich web of space-time continuum is warped by another nearby object, a force is generated. This centripetal force accelerates the nearby object towards the large object and it is captured in what we call an “orbit”.

The force of gravity is the result of space-time continuum warping, and is responsible to keep all of the planets in our solar system orbiting around the much larger sun. The sun, having a huge mass, has a very large gravitational attractive force which affects planets even as far away as Uranus and Pluto. Even these small planets have mass which keeps them in orbit as they whiz around our sun. You might think the sun and the orbiting planets in our solar system, would attract and smash into each other, however, the fact the planet and it’s mass is in motion generates centripetal and centrifugal forces the keep the planet in orbit. This orbit remains relatively constant as the forces of the attracting gravity and repelling motion are in balance, i.e., the centripetal and centrifugal forces are in balance such that no inward acceleration is produced. As long as the planet or comet keeps moving it is not in danger of crashing into the sun.

Another unique application of space-time warping is causing by something we can’t even see. We can only observe its effects --- and we have a very large one in our solar system --- the amazing black hole. A black hole is formed when a number of suns and planets finally collide as their obits decay. They amazing mass is very dense and has such powerful gravitational forces that light itself can not escape its powerful attractive pull. Light goes out a short distance, and then does a 180 degree curve right back into the center of the black hole. It’s like a giant interstellar vacuum cleaner that sucks up planets, comets, and even suns that have the misfortune of coming near its point of final and fatal attraction which is called an “accreation disk”. Once a planet or sun enters this area it disappears forever into the black hole.

Try dropping some marbles down the acceleration ramp in this gravity well. At first, the marbles orbit slowly around the center of the disk (our sun) which represents the most powerful zone of gravity force.

In the beginning the marbles are at a great distance from the center, much like planets in the very outermost orbits such as Uranus and Pluto. Their motion is slow and it requires a long time for them to travel around our sun. At this great distance the warping of space-time is very slight so the marble travels slowly in a very large orbit. As the marble gets closer and closer to the center of this gravity well you will notice that it accelerates to a higher and higher speed as the pulling force of gravity is rapidly increasing. Finally its orbit decays to zero radius and it spirals into the sun.

The black hole uses this same model of gravitational operation. The black hole has tremendously large gravity and can attract planets, comets, and even other suns from great distances. Once the planet or sun falls into a gravitational orbit around a black hole it is “captured”, and begins a “dance of death”. It may take millions of years but eventually the planets mass will be attracted to the edge of the black hole --- the outer accreation disk area, and usually it’s only a matter of days before the planet or sun disappears into the center of the black hole. The planet or sun is literally ripped apart into individual atoms and finally becomes pure energy in the very center of the black hole.

At present we do not know for sure where all this incredible energy goes --- an energy level billions of times greater than an atomic bomb. The atoms themselves are ripped apart and converted into pure energy in accordance with Einstein’s famous equation:

E = M x C squared

Energy = Mass x the Speed of Light squared

It is postulated by astrophysicists that this energy actually enters another universe. This may be possible because this enormous amount of energy can actually creates a “wormhole” in space and time, and this allows this energy to travel into another parallel universe.

Much of the mathematics of these processes are being continued by the great physicists of today including the famous Steven Hawking (his book, “A Brief History of Time” details these processes).

In this Gravity Well the center of the black hole is represented by the center of the well. Marbles launched into the edge of this Gravity Well represent planets and suns who have been captured by the black hole’s enormous gravity field. As the marbles whirl around the Gravity Well they are in the “accreation disk” area of the black hole. The accreation disk an area where escape is impossible and the death of the planet or sun is a certainty. The captured mass (planet or sun) whirls faster and faster until it “blinks out” as it enters the very center of the black hole. It is gone forever from our part of the universe, and perhaps it reappears in another universe as pure energy.

Perhaps you, the young scientists, physicists, and astrophysicists of today and tomorrow, will figure out the solution to this incredibly difficult problem. Good luck!

Resonance Research model GW-200 Gravity Well is a huge 7 foot (214 cm) diameter fiberglass funnel configured to match the containment system of our sun or a large black hole. Marbles are released on special “launch ramps” at each of the 4 corners of the Gravity Well. These special ramps are bidirectional to enable marbles (or coins) to be simultaneously launched in different directions producing counter rotating orbits of “planets” that barely miss each other. Children may release either marbles or coins down the specially sloped ramps to produce interesting effects. The “planets” disappear into the very center of the funnel to simulate the “capture” of an orbiting planet by the sun, or, in the case of a black hole, the capture of planets, comets, suns, or any other material unfortunate enough to become entrapped in the invisible web of gravity --- the warping of the space time continuum.

Model GW-200 is 7 ft x 7 ft square, and stands 44 inches (112 cm) in height. This exhibit weighs 230 lbs and is available in a variety of colors. Standard color is black however optional colors include green, blue, yellow, and red are available. This exhibit does not require electricity and consumes no power.

An overhead display allows the museum to place graphics above the Gravity Well to assist in the educational process.

Induction Coil

Heinrich Ruhmkorff (1803-1877) was born in Germany, and later moved to Paris, France. In 1851 Ruhmkorff developed a famous high voltage induction coil which became known as a “Ruhmkorff coil”.

The Ruhmkorff induction coil produced 40,000 Volts with sparks in air over 2.5 inches long. In 1858 his Ruhmkorff induction coil received the first prize of 50,000 francs at the French Exposition of Electrical Apparatus. The Ruhmkorff induction coil is an “open frame” type transformer based on Faraday’s original “iron ring” transformer. This induction coil transformer consists of a straight bundle of iron wires which serves as the transformer core around which is wound a short length of heavy copper wire. The heavy copper wire forms the primary coil of the induction coil.

A secondary coil consisting of many turns of fine copper wire is wound around the primary coil and forms the secondary or high voltage coil of the transformer. This secondary transformer coil produces very high voltages when the low voltage direct current flowing in the primary coil is interrupted by a mechanical interrupter. Modern transformers do not require an interrupter as they operate on rapidly fluctuating alternating current.

An American inventor, Charles Page (1812-1868) was the actual first inventor of the induction coil. Page developed an induction coil transformer in 1836 that produced sparks over 4 inches in length. By 1850, prior to Ruhmkorff’s induction coil, Page produced an induction coil with an open air spark length of 9 inches. By 1855, nearly 3 years before Ruhmkorff claimed the prestigious French Exposition prize, Page’s unique induction coil transformer was producing 16 inch long sparks!

German scientist Geissler applied this new induction coil transformer to a vacuum and noted the sparks produced amazing effects as they zapped across the evacuated tube. In short order induction coils, Crookes tubes, and Geissler tubes became standard laboratory equipment as many scientists became intrigued with the effects of high voltage electric charges in vacuum tubes. Analysis of these effects lead to the discovery of electrons, protons, and neutrons, and ushered in the modern atomic age.

Induction coils form the heart of every automobile ignition system where the “coil” provides the high voltage to operate the spark plugs and ignite the air-fuel mixture. A special type of induction coil known as a “flyback transformer” powers the large cathode ray tube (CRT) in television sets and hospital cariac monitors. Induction coils provide the high potentials which accelerate electrons down the tube to impact with a phosphor that glows and forms the images we see. Special types high frequency induction coils, known as Tesla coils and flyback transformers, are used by surgeons to cauterize blood vessels thus reducing bleeding during surgery. Dentists and oral surgeons also use Tesla coils to perform routine cutting of soft gum tissue to expose cavities lying under the gum line.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures our model IC-10 Induction Coil. This induction coil produces up to 75,000 Volts with open air spark discharges over 5 inches (13 cm) in length. A modern version of the antique Ruhmkorff induction coil, developed in 1858, this machine is completely enclosed in a beautiful oak wooden cabinet and features brass discharge electrodes. IC-10 Induction Coil may be used to power Geissler tubes, Crookes tubes, X-ray tubes, and other historical types of electrical machines.

Model IC-10 Induction Coil operates off a standard 120 VAC, 60 Hertz electrical outlet and draws only 3 Amperes of current (360 Watts total). IC-10 Induction Coil has a total weight of 12 lbs. and may be transported to do museum outreach programs at local schools and fundraisers.

Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arc - Model MCA-15

Video 01

The Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arc is activated as the visitor presses a colorful pushbutton and a solid state electronic timer controls the duration of the experiment. A unique audio system provides a 60 second recorded educational content and description of the experiment.

Model MCA-15 Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arc produces large and powerful 5 foot (153 cm) long high voltage climbing arcs. These sparks and arcs travel vertically up two V-shaped stainless steel rods.

In the 1930s, with the development of rural power lines, Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arcs were referred to as “horn gaps” and provided a crude form of lightning arrestor for rural power lines. If lightning struck the power line, the Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arc would form an upward traveling high voltage arc until in snapped off at the top of the V-shaped rods. The base of the rods were set at a large distance so only very high overvoltages would trigger the Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arcs. One arc is all that was made and then it reset waiting for the next lightning storm. Modern power line systems use a solid state enclosed version of the climbing arc called semiconductor lightning arrestors.

This exhibit measures 38 inches x 38 inches x 72 inches high (97 cm x 97 cm x 183 cm) and operates off a standard 120 VAC, 60 Hertz electric outlet. European 220 Volt, 50 Hertz models are also available. Model MCA-15 Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arc floor exhibit weighs 185 lbs.

Marx (Impulse) Lightning Generator

Produces over 600,000 volts of stored electric charge.
Peak spark currents of over 50,000 amperes.
Simulates the effects of atmospheric lightning discharges.
Operates off a standard 220 volt power source.
Spectacular and dramatic demonstrations of stored energy in capacitors.

Magic of Motors Floor Exhibit

Resonance Research Corporation presents model MM-25 Magic of Motors electrical floor exhibit. This exhibit asks the visitor to alternately press two colorful pushbuttons which activate large and powerful electromagnets. These electromagnets alternately pull down on a steel ball and the resulting energy is transferred by a crankshaft into rotary motion.

This action with electromagnets formed the very first electric motors --- devices that are capable of doing back-breaking work by allowing electricity to be our silent servant.

Electromagnets became the heart of all electric motors and soon became the basis of many electrical devices in use throughout the world.

This exhibit measures 42 inches x28 inches x 48 inches high (107 cm x 72 cm x 122 cm) and operates off a standard 120 VAC, 60 Hertz electric outlet. European 220 Volt, 50 Hertz models are also available. Model MCA-15 Jacob’s Ladder Climbing Arc floor exhibit weighs 185 lbs.

Plasma Cylinder

Modern plasma cylinders, also called Crackle tubes, contain special gas mixtures including neon, argon, krypton, xenon, helium, and other easily electrified gases. The enclosed gases exist in the third state of matter: gas. When electrified by minature microprocessor controlled solid state Tesla coils, a unique fourth state of matter is created: plasma. Plasma means “electrified gas”. The continuous change of power levels and frequencies in the plasma cylinder causes it to have a unique and changing character. The electrified gas (plasma) is always seeking a ground to release its energy. As you touch the glass plasma cylinder your hand represents a ground and some of the energy is directly thru the glass walls of the vessel. This allows you to interact directly with the electrified gas without receiving an electric shock.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures 4 different sizes of plasma cylinders. Cylinders are available in 48 inch x 6 inch (122 cm x 16 cm)sizes. All of our plasma cylinders are powered by a special type of high voltage, high frequency, power supply that continuously sweeps across a narrow band of frequencies from 10 kHz thru 60 kHz. This frequency sweeping technique provides a very special type of plasma that is very active within the sphere.

Plasma cylinders produce spectacular electrical “bolts of lightning”. Common size is 48 inches x 6 inch diameter (122 cm x 16 cm). These plasma cylinders can be stacked to produce either vertical or horizontal columns as high as 60 feet (20 m). Colors include red, green, blue, orange, coral pink, and violet. Green offers the best spectral response to the human eye and is seen as the brightest of these colors. The coral pink plasma cylinder color also looks very interesting and is a favorite among children.

Plasma Sphere

Video 01

In 1891, while conducting electrical investigations with his newly developed vacuum carbon button lamps, Nikola Tesla introduced different gases into the evacuated sphere and created the first plasma globe. Tesla’s early plasma globe was a crude device powered by his newly developed spark gap type “disruptive” Tesla coils. These plasma globes are similar to early Geissler tubes and Crookes tubes but differ in the fact they contain a mixture of gases that are easily electrified by high voltage electrical currents.

Modern plasma globes feature microprocessor controlled high voltage, high frequency power supplies in which the frequency and power levels are continuously sweep across a band ranging from 10 kHz thru 60 kHz. This sweeping effect thru the gases in the plasma globe provides unique and ever-changing electrified patterns in the gas mixture within the globe. Similar techniques are also applied to long cylinders known as Lightning tubes and Crackle tubes.

Modern plasma globes contain special gas mixtures including neon, argon, krypton, xenon, helium, and other easily electrified gases. The enclosed gases exist in the third state of matter: gas. When electrified by minature microprocessor controlled solid state Tesla coils, a unique fourth state of matter is created: plasma. Plasma means “electrified gas”. The continuous change of power levels and frequencies in the plasma globe causes it to have a unique and changing character. The electrified gas (plasma) is always seeking a ground to release its energy. As you touch the glass plasma globe your hand represents a ground and some of the energy is directly thru the glass walls of the vessel. This allows you to interact directly with the electrified gas without receiving an electric shock.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures 4 different sizes of plasma globes. Spheres are available in 18 inch (46 cm), 22 inch (56 cm), 24 inch (61 cm), and 30 inch (77 cm) diameters. The most common sizes used in science museums are the 18 inch (46 cm) and 22 inch (56 cm) diameter sizes. All of our plasma globes are powered by a special type of high voltage, high frequency, power supply that continuously sweeps across a narrow band of frequencies from 10 kHz thru 60 kHz. This frequency sweeping technique provides a very special type of plasma that is very active within the sphere. RRC also manufactures long plasma cylinders that contain electrical “bolts of lightning”. Common size is 48 inches (122 cm) x 6 inch (16 cm). These plasma cylinders can be stacked to produce either vertical or horizontal columns as high as 60 feet (20 m). Colors include red, green, blue, orange, coral pink, and violet. Green offers the best spectral response to the human eye and is seen as the brightest of these colors. The coral pink plasma cylinder color also looks very interesting and is a favorite among children.

Super Sound Resonance / Standing Waves

An interesting display of the physical principle of acoustical resonance. Styrofoam beads form standing waves in a large horizontal glass cylinder. The waveforms change as the visitor varies the amplitude, modulation and frequency of the charging energy.

Principles of acoustic (sound) resonance.
Relationship between frequency and wavelength.
Amplitude, frequency, modulation.

Sympathetic Node Vibrations / Resonance

A “hands-on” experiment in mechanical resonance. Visitors activate vibrating strips of metal of different masses and discover what happened when material of in “resonance” – a sometimes-powerful destructive force in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.

Resonance Transformers - Tesla Coils

Video 01

In 1887 Nikola Tesla invented the high voltage air core transformer which is now named in his honor: Tesla coil. Tesla was experimenting with large iron core Ruhmkorff induction coils and removed the iron core. He was also the first experimenter to use a high voltage capacitor in the primary circuit of the Tesla coil thus creating a very high frequency oscillating current. When he applied this technology new a long coil wound with over 1,000 turns of insulated wire, he created the high voltage air core Tesla coil. Tesla coils produces very long sparks and present a very dramatic display of electricity. Electricity, our silent servant which is seldom seen, is suddenly brought to a very spectacular display of electrical fireworks.

Many interesting and exciting experiments are conducted with Tesla coils including a visitor in a Faraday cage safely taking an electrical discharge of over 1 million Volts, bursting paper into flames to demonstrate the high current, transferring radio frequency energy to a hand-held neon tube to brilliantly light it up without any interconnecting wires, and operating Newton’s action-reaction law spinner. Tesla coils and Van de Graaff generators form some of the most exciting displays a museum can incorporate into it’s exciting exhibits for visitors to view.

Resonance Research Corporation is the world’s only full-time manufacturer of high voltage Tesla coils and Ruhmkorff induction coils.

Our model IC-10 induction coil produces over 75,000 Volts that produces beautiful 5 inch long sparks in open air. This large induction coil is presented in a beautiful hand-crafted oak case and resembles the very early inductions coils and Ruhmkorff induction coils. Model IC-10 induction coil will power Crookes tubes, Geissler tubes, and X-ray tubes. RRCs model IC-10 induction coil is an exact replica of a laboratory induction coil from the period 1858 through 1930. Induction coils are still used in all modern physics laboratories and university lecture halls as a valuable teaching aid for the concepts of induction coils and high voltage transformers.

Resonance Research Corporation’s Tesla coils are individually hand-crafted in the USA and use on the highest quality and most reliable components available. Unlike some of our competitors, RRC uses absolutely no surplus parts, surplus capacitors, surplus variacs, or other surplus parts in the construction of our beautiful Tesla coils. All components are factory new and highly reliable.

Our Tesla coils are available in small “table-top” versions, model M-5 Tesla coil, to a truly fire-breathing monster, model M-1000 Tesla coil, with sparks up to 90 feet in length. Many of our new Tesla coil systems utilize complete solid state micro-processor controlled IGBT switching to totally eliminate the source of most spurious RF radiation in Tesla coils --- the troublesome open air spark gap. Tesla coils using open air type spark gaps typically operate at voltages in excess of 20,000 Volts, while solid state microprocessor controlled IGBT switched Tesla coils operate at primary coil voltages of less than 615 Volts DC.

Models include model M-5 Tesla coil, a table-top machine that produces spectacular 16 inch (41 cm) long spark discharges and is well-suited for operation with small children as it’s primary coil is encased in an acrylic shield to prevent electrical shocks. It has a very small electric field to present spurious RF radiation, but offers a field strong enough for children to light up neon & argon tubes several feet away from the Tesla coil. Model M-5 Tesla coil operates off any standard 120 VAC electric outlet. Model M-5 Tesla coil produces up to 200,000 Volts of spectacular lightning discharges into the open air off its 6 inch diameter copper sphere. A small Tesla coil demonstration kit and manual of experiments is provided with this machine.

Model M-100 Tesla coil is a floor standing machine that produces sparks up to 5 feet (153 cm) in length. This Tesla coil is a floor unit that is on caster wheels for easy mobility and its modular construction allows for easy breakdown for transfer to a remote location for fund-raising events, etc. Model M-100 operates of a 120 VAC electric outlet. Model M-100 Tesla coil produces up to 500,000 Volts of electrical energy and produces spectacular open air displays. This Tesla coil may be used in a theater type environment or easily wheeled around the museum floor for spot demonstrations for your visitors.

Model M-150 Tesla coil is our standard large Tesla coil demonstrator for use in our spectacular Theater-of-Science™ programs. This Tesla coil produces open air spark discharges up to 9 feet in length. Model M-150 is a true 1 million Volt Tesla coil that is sure to amaze your visitors. Our largest program, Iridium, uses two model M-150 Tesla coils is spectacular tandem dual action operation. This dual Tesla coil display produces over 2 million Volts of dazzling electricity, but may safely be used in the theater as the lightning bolts travel horizontally between the two machines.

Tesla Coil Floor Exhibit - Model M-5

In this “hands-on” interactive exhibit children create their own “lightning bolts” of high voltage electricity and use special neon and argon wands to interact with the electrical energy field that is transmitted by this exhibit. The Tesla coil was the first true transmitter of radio waves and Nikola Tesla was awarded the patent for radio “tuned circuits” in 1946.

The energy field from this Tesla coil transfers invisibly through the air into a hand-held neon and argon tube that is equipped with a special receiver antenna to capture the radio waves. The radio energy from the Tesla coil causes the tubes to light up brightly when held in the hand of a visitor.

The Tesla coil is activated as the visitor presses a colorful pushbutton and a solid state electronic timer controls the duration of the experiment. A unique audio system provides a 60 second recorded educational content and description of the experiment.

Model M-5 Tesla coil produces lightning discharges 12 inches (31 cm) in length from a large 6 inch (16 cm) copper sphere. The spark discharges travel to a nearby ground sphere on a grounded stand.

This exhibit measures 54 inches x 40 inches x 46 inches high (138 cm x 102 cm x 117 cm) and operates off a standard 120 VAC, 60 Hertz electric outlet. European 220 Volt, 50 Hertz models are also available. Model M-5 Tesla coil floor exhibit weighs 140 lbs.

Thunder and Lightning Floor Exhibit - Model LT-50

Visitors charge up a pair of large antique “Leyden Jar” high voltage capacitors. The high voltage Leyden Jars discharge stored energy from an acrylic, air-brushed, overhead thundercloud, into the lightning rod which protects the house from the damaging effects of direct lightning strikes. Visitors learn the physics concepts of voltage, current, how lightning is formed inside a thundercloud, and how lightning rods can protect tall buildings from damage. In addition to the experiments, the audio presentation guides the visitor’s experiences to insure educational content is received. This exhibit is activated independently by each visitor as they press a colorful pushbutton to activate the audio and charge the capacitor.

Transformer

The first electric transformer was developed in 1831 by Michael Faraday (1791-1867). Faraday was one of the greatest experimenters of the nineteenth century in the field of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism. In 1812 Faraday attended a lecture delivered by Sir H. Davy, the great chemist. The lecture inspired Faraday to study electricity as a hobby.

In 1829 William Jenkin observed that a wire surrounding an electromagnet would produce a powerful electric shock when the wire was disconnected. Faraday experimented with electromagnets and wound two independent coils of wire around an iron ring. Faraday discovered that when an electric current would flow in one coil another current of opposite polarity would be observed in the second coil. On October 1, 1931, Faraday has produced the first electric transformer. Faraday noted the second coil would only produce an electric current when the current in the first, or primary, coil was interrupted. Faraday termed this transformer effect electromagnetic induction.

Modern transformers do not require an electric switch to interrupt the flow of current in the primary coil. Alternating electric current changes directions 120 times per second, and, via electromagnetic induction, produces a current of opposite polarity in the secondary windings. Transformers consist of a primary coil and a separate secondary coil wound around a laminated steel core (laminations prevent heating losses in the core due to eddy current formation). Transformers can step voltage up or down as required. Transformers can also increase current or intensity in a circuit.

Unlike Faradays early transformer, modern transformer design places the secondary coil directly over the primary coil to increase magnetic coupling and improve efficiency.

An American experimenter, Joseph Henry, also experimented with electromagnets, and independently of Michael Faraday, developed an electric transformer in September, 1831. Later experimenters Page and Ruhmkorff developed high voltage transformers called induction coils. Induction coils are transformers with straight iron cores while modern transformers use “C” cores and “H” cores for more efficient operation.

Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generators

In 1939, Robert J. Van de Graaff, developed the modern electrostatic Van de Graaff generator. Van de Graaff developed the generator to produce very high direct current voltages to accelerate particles in atom smashers.

The Van de Graaff generator represents a significant advance over early electrostatic generators such as the Wimshurst generator and the Varley electrostatic generator.

The Van de Graaff generator consists of a silk, rubber, or leather belt and transport electric charge up inside a large dome-shaped high voltage terminal. The voltage slowly builds to a very high level and then ionizes the air. This produces a long spark to a nearby ground terminal.

Early Van de Graaff generators used silk belts --- today’s modern Van de Graaff generators use modern Teflon isoelastomer belts and incorporate metal pulleys to enable a 15,000 Volt charge to spray on the charge transport belt. This “active spray” process dramatically increases the Van de Graaff generator’s current and makes possible more powerful and spectacular hair-standing experiments. Resonance Research Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of active spray type Van de Graaff generators.

In 1931 Van de Graaff constructed a huge 40 foot (12 m) tall Van de Graaff generator at MIT’s Round Hill facility. This monster Van de Graaff generator was used in tandem with a second machines to accelerate charged particles to high velocities for atomic experiments that contributed to the development of the atomic bomb.

The two high voltage terminals were grafted together into in 1953, and the world’s largest Van de Graaff generator was donated to the Boston Museum of Science. 60 years later this huge Van de Graaff generator still produces powerful 30 foot (10 m) long lightning discharges that astound visitors on a daily basis.

Modern Van de Graaff generators are enclosed in a steel tank that is pressurized with sulfur hexafluoride gas (SF6) which allows the generator to operate at much higher voltages. National Electrostatics company in Middleton, Wisconsin, uses a special “linked metal cylinder” chain to transport very large amounts of electric charge into the high voltage terminal. These pressurized cylinder Van de Graaff machines can produce amazing levels of potential. The largest Van de Graaff generator in the world, which can achieve 35 million Volts, is located in Israel, and features a Pelletron linked-chain design.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures 5 different sizes of Van de Graaff generators.

Our table top Van de Graaff generator is model HV-400 and uses active-spray technology on a Teflon belt to produce excellent charge on it’s 14 inch (36 cm) diameter terminal. This unit is furnished with our model DK-100 Electrostatic Demonstration Kit which includes a stand-on platform for hair raising experiments, an electrostatic motor, hand-held ground terminal, stand mounted ground terminal, and neon & argon spectral discharge tubes.

Medium size Van de Graaff generators include our model HV-600 (600,000 Volts) and HV-800 (800,000 Volts). HV-600 Van de Graaff generator features a 24 inch (61 cm) diameter sphere and model HV-800 utilizes a 30 inch (77 cm) diameter sphere.

These Van de Graaff generators both are floor units with caster wheels for easy mobility about the museum. Both machines operate off a standard 120 VAC, 60 Hertz electric outlet. 220 Volt, 50 Hertz models are available for European operation.

Our largest Van de Graaff generators include model HV-1000 (1,000,000) Volts and model HV-2000 (2,000,000 Volts). The large machines must be enclosed in a restricted access area due to their very large amounts of stored charge. HV-1000 Van de Graaff generator operates from a 120 VAC outlet while the larger HV-2000 operates off 220 VAC. HV-1000 features a 40 inch (1 m) high voltage terminal while HV-2000 Van de Graaff generator features a 7 foot (2.2 m) terminal.

Resonance Research Corporation Van de Graaff generators use powerful induction motors and have wide charge belts to deliver spectacular operation even when the humidity is high or it is raining. Self excited (frictional) operated Van de Graaff generators do not operate very well when the humidity level exceeds 50%. In many cases these Van de Graaff generators will not even stand up the hair.

Wimshurst Generator

In the mid 1850s there existed two different techniques for generating high voltage electrical currents: Ruhmkorff induction coils and Wimshurst generators.

The newly developed Crookes tubes and Geissler tubes required a source of high voltage to produce their unique florescences.

In 1882 James Wimshurst attached small metallic strips of metal to a large circular glass plate. A second plate, counter-rotating to the first plate, is attached to a rotating shaft. As the plates counter-rotate they pick up electrostatic charge from the air and deposit these charges in Leyden jar capacitors. These glass plate machines became known as Wimshurst generators.

Wimshurst generators are the earliest form of “electrical influence machines”. In the late 1800s demonstrators traveled throughout Europe using Wimshurst generators to entertain royal kings and queens. In one example, a young boy was suspended from the ceiling of silk threads (insulator) and attached to a very large Wimshurst generator that had glass plates 7 feet in diameter. He would extend his finger and attract bits of paper and stand viewers hair on end. The electrostatic parlor tricks were very interesting and highly attended by royalty and upper class society members.

Wimshurst generators were later used to power X-ray tubes developed by William Rontgen. Wimshurst generators are capable of providing the high voltages and relatively high currents required to operate X-ray tubes, Geissler tubes, and Crookes tubes.

Later developments in electrostatic generators produced the Van de Graaff generator which made the Wimshurst generators obsolete after 1930.

The Van de Graaff generator provided a more efficient technique to develop ultra high voltages. Van de Graaff generators used a moving rubber or leather belt to transport electrical charge into a large dome-shaped terminal where it would collect and build up very high voltages.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures a very large Wimshurst generator in two sizes. One machine, our model WM-100 is a table top Wimshurst generator with plastic plates 14 inches (36 cm) in diameter. This Wimshurst generator produces sparks up to 6 inches (16 cm) in length and also features two antique Leyden jar capacitors. The Leyden jars may be switched in and out of the circuit with the aid of a plastic stick. Leyden jars are the earliest form of high voltage capacitors and were used in many early X-ray machines, Wimshurst generators, and Tesla coils.

Our largest Wimshurst generator, model WM-500 has large rotating glass plates 4 feet in diameter (122 cm) and includes very large Leyden jars. This machine stands 5 feet (153 cm) tall and delivers very powerful lightning like spark discharges up to 20 inches (51 cm) in length.

X-ray tube

Crookes continued his investigations in highly exhausted Crookes tubes and concluded that “some type of matter” was being accelerated to very high velocities. Crookes discovered the new rays of “radiant matter” (known today as electrons) traveled in straight lines, cast shadows in Crookes tubes when intercepted by solid matter, are capable of turning a small paddle wheel, and could be deflected by a magnet. Crookes called this “radiant matter” a new fourth state of matter (today electrified gases are know as plasma).

Crookes also produced very long evacuated tubes and varied interesting “twisted” shapes of tubes which were named in his honor, Crookes tubes.

Not long afterward, in 1895, William K. Rontgen (1845-1923) noted a Crookes tube, when attached to an induction coil, would cause nearby barium-platino-cyanide crystals to fluorescence. These crystals would even florescence after the eminations from the Crookes tubes were blocked with black paper, wood, or aluminum.

Rontgen developed a curved cathode X-ray tube which allows X-rays to be focused sharply to produce higher contrast and detail in X-ray photographs.

X-rays are also used to check teeth for cavities, treat cancer, and allow doctors to “see inside” the human body without cutting it open.

Resonance Research Corporation manufactures a very large mockup operating model of a modern X-ray tube. Our model XR-25 X-ray tube features a mockup tube 4 feet (122 cm) long x 10 inches (26 cm) width. A simulated high voltage transformer transfers electrical energy into the mockup vacuum tube which produces the X-ray energy. The X-rays (not real X-rays of course) eminate from the “window” area of the X-ray tube and irradiate a human hand --- the detail of the interior bones are illustrated with a colorful LED diode display. The visitor presses a colorful pushbutton to activate the exhibit and educational audio content is delivered through a self-contained speaker system. The complete operational cycle takes approximately 60 seconds and delivers an excellent source of visual and audio information to the visitor.