Nikola Tesla - Free-Energy Devices

176 INVENTIONS OF NIKOLA TE8LA.high frequencies and potentials, transfer sufficient energy from itto other bodies in the vicinity,or in general to the surroundings,to maintain it at any degree of incandescence or we; may, bymeans of such rapidly alternating high potentials, disturb theether carried by the molecules of a gas or their static charges,causing them to viorate and to emit light.But, electrostatic eifects being dependent upon the potentialand frequency, to produce the most powerful action it is desirableto increase both as far as practicable. Itmay be possible toobtain quitefair results by keeping either of these factors small,provided the other is sufficiently great but we are limited in;both directions. My experience demonstrates that we cannot gobelow a certain frequency, for, first, the potential then becomesso great that it isdangerous ;is less efficient.and, secondly, the light productionI have found that, by using the ordinary low frequencies, thephysiological effect of the current required to maintain at a certaindegree of brightness a tube four feet long, provided at theends with outside and inside condenser coatings, is so powerfulthat, I think, it might produce serious injury to those not accustomedto such shocks ; whereas, with twenty thousand alternationsper second, the tube may be maintained at the same degreeof brightness without any effect being felt. This is due principallyto the fact that a much smaller potential is required to producethe same light effect, and also to the higher efficiencyin thelight production. It is evident that the efficiencv in such casesis the greater, the higher the frequency, for the quicker the processof charging and discharging the molecules, the less energywill be lost in the form of dark radiation. But, unfortunately,we cannot go beyond a certain frequency on account of the difficultyof producing and conveying the effects.I have stated above that a body inclosed in an unexhaustedbulb may be intensely heated itby simply connecting with asource of rapidly alternating potential. The heating in such acase is, in all probability, due mostly to the bombardment of themolecules of the gas contained in the bulb. When the bulb isexhausted, the heating of the body is much more rapid, and thereis no difficulty whatever in bringing a wire or filament to anydegree of incandescence by simply connecting it to one terminalof a coil of the proper dimensions. Thus, if the well-known apparatusof Prof. Crookes, consisting of a bent platinum wire with