When it is dry and you are scuffling around in rubber soles, you often build up a big charge of static. The question then is what to do with it. It seems a shame to waste that good spark. The temptation is to sneak up behind someone and touch his ear. There needs to be a better solution.

I propose a self contained desktop electrostatic motor. Unlike most ungainly and delicately balanced electrostatic motors, this would be substantial enough to survive a fall from the desk. It would have a copper point on the top which you could touch to deposit your charge. It would be plugged in but would only use the ground. Inside there would be a "Love Tester" type apparatus which would rise up as long as your charge lasted. This would no doubt provoke competitions. Alternatively there could be a chimp on a bike who would pedal furiously when he was shocked.
-- bungston, Dec 17 2003

Electrostatic motor plan http://www.amasci.com/emotor/emotor.html
This things is fine, but it is hard to balance it, and don't you dare move it or look at it wrong if you ever get it working. [bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

Like this, with monkeys? http://www.thebakke.../merry-go-round.htm
[Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

//The question then is what to do with it.// I used to shock customers in the shop I worked in, when I handed over their change. It made everyone happy (well, that's how I remember it).
-- neilp, Dec 17 2003


I do that too, and I work selling computer parts ...
-- Letsbuildafort, Dec 17 2003


Sweet link, [World]! Yep, just like that, except available at Sharper Image, and not so delicate, and not a priceless antique. And incorporating a "Love Tester", dammit!
-- bungston, Dec 17 2003


You could run this off of your monitor screen.
-- bungston, Oct 08 2007



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