Standing seven inches tall, this lacquered brass instrument has a chamber for holding water, leading to three small capillary tubes below, each pierced with a tiny hole at the tip. The lid, which unscrews, bears a hook and ball for attachment to an electrostatic generator.

Water conducts electricity, so as the water flows down from the small tubes, it will be electrically charged to match the brass instrument. Like charges repel, of course, so the water-drops will be forced away from the brass at higher than normal speeds. When the charge gets especially high, each water-droplet will explode into many smaller charged droplets, each of which will repel one another. And not only does the spray become finely-divided and energetic, its charge attracts it to all nearby surfaces. This demonstration can do an excellent job of wetting down, evenly, everything in its vicinity except for the electrostatic generator that charged it in the first place. Various forms of electrostatic spray are used today in painting, powder coating, pollution control, et cetera.

Sigaud-Lafond (1730-1810) wrote of its importance in demonstrating the effect of the "electric fluid" on circulation in the vascular system of animals. It has also been illustrated in Nollet's work on the life sciences. Below is an illustration of charged water spraying, extracted from Jacquet de Malzet's 1775 Précis de l'électricité:

Museum Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 to 5
Thursdays 10 am to  8pm 
Closed Major Holidays
Library Hours: Monday - Friday 9 to 4:30

Admission: $7 Adults; $5 Students & Seniors; Children 3 and under are FREE!

© The Bakken Updated: April 6, 2007