Lichtenberg Figures
February 18th, 2008 FunForever
It’s like a trapped lightning in a block. German scientist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg first “trapped” a lightning in 18th century. To make such “lightnings” you need a clear acrylic block, a metal point, a source of static electricity and photocopier toner.
Place a sharp metal point so it touches the center of a sheet of insulating material. Lichtenberg used resin made from tree sap. Today, clear acrylic works well.
Use a Wimshurst machine a Van de Graaff generator, or vigorous shuffling on shag carpeting to build up static electricity, and then touch the metal point with the machine’s electrode to discharge it. This forms a pattern of stranded charge on the plastic, but you can’t see the it yet.
Blow photocopier toner over the surface. It will reveal the figure. Here are some wonderful lichtenberg figures.
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