Kathy Loves Physics

Author: Kathy Joseph

  • How Luigi Galvani Invented The Battery And Made A Dead Frog Jump

    How Luigi Galvani Invented The Battery And Made A Dead Frog Jump

    How did a Galvani make a dead frog jump?  And how did that lead to the battery?  And, hey, didn’t Volta invent the first battery?  Well, I’ll tell you and along the way I will talk about professional misconduct, a surprising accident, the inspiration for Frankenstein and the building block of life. Table Of Contents…

  • History of the Lightning Rod: Ben Franklin Invented the Lightning Rod And It Terrified & Offended People!

    “Why did Ben Franklin invent the lightning rod and how does the lightning rod work? And why in the world would it scare or offend anyone?  Watch the video and find out!” How could the lightning rod terrify and offend people?  It is just a piece of metal connected by a wire to the ground! …

  • How Benjamin Franklin Discovered Electricity

    How did Benjamin Franklin discover about electricity?  And what did Franklin discover about electricity once he heard about it? Well, I’ll tell you and along the way I will talk about how we got positive and negative charges, the longest-standing rule of Physics, a terrifying experiment with lightning and a simple mistake that still plagues…

  • How a Leyden Jar Works

    Wait? How did a jar of water shock anyone?  And why?  Well, I’ll tell you and along the way, I will talk about: shocking people for the king’s pleasure, breaking the rules, and masochistic adrenalin junkies with some really difficult names to pronounce.  Table of Contents The Electrifying Experiment How the Leyden Jar Works Andreas…

  • Georg Matthias Bose: Crazy Experiments of the Enlightenment

    Am I really going to light a fire with my bare finger?  Of course, I am!  But I am not just going to do it because it is cool, but also because I am copying an electronic wizard named Matthias Bose who came up with this trick over 280 years ago!  How did that transform…

  • How Static Electricity Works

    How did gold lead to the first rules of electricity? And, why is it ½ correct? What is correct and what was incorrect?  Well, I’ll tell you and along the way, I’ll talk about how static electricity works, why it doesn’t work on humid days, and why it often flows away and confuses us.  Table…

  • The True Father of Electricity: Stephen Gray

    On May 1, 1729 a retired clothing dyer noticed a single feather moving in a strange way which changed the course of history. How did a single feather change the course of history?  Well, I’ll tell you and along the way, I will talk about class prejudice, the true father of electricity, electrifying hot pokers,…

  • How the Inquisition led to the Vacuum Pump

    How in the world would the inquisition lead to the invention of the vacuum pump?  And what does that have to do with electricity?  I’ll tell you and along the way. I will also talk about heavy air, an impatient Duke, a panicked Galileo, unfortunate facial hair, air superglue, an impressive demonstration with 24 horses,…

  • How Electricity Was Discovered with a Cool Static Electricity Demo

    What does Electricity have to do with jewelry?  I’ll tell you and along the way I will also talk about: The story of electricity begins with jewelry.  Not just any jewelry but jewelry made of amber.  Turns out that if you rub amber with fur on a dry day it can pick up little pieces…