A humorous collection of classic Ben Franklin-era electrostatics experiments demonstrating conduction and insulation effects reenacted with a group of barefooted college-age volunteers in t-shirts known as “braniacs” and a commercial farm-grade electric fence. Quite humorous and compelling, with a noteworthy musical track. Brainiac: Science Abuse is a UK science entertainment show with several episodes on YouTube and a website with some freely available shows at http://sky1.sky.com/show/brainiac. Note that the Skynet site (like Hulu or Showtime or online TV network sites) has other, adult-themed television content not suitable for the classroom. See also the excellent Benjamin Franklin and Electrostatics website at the Wright Center at Tufts University by Dr. Robert Morse: http://tinyurl.com/2szs2c, especially the QuickTime video clip entitled “Drawing the Fire” that you can reenact with your students in the classroom.

Topics
Electrostatics, Television broadcasting, Education, Physicists
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© 2009 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2009
American Association of Physics Teachers
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