Nikola Tesla - Free-Energy Devices

HIGH FREQUENCY AND HIGH POTENTIAL CURRENTS. 231I have been unable to produce the phenomenon with the disruptivedischarge coil, although every other of these phenomenacan be well produced by it many, in fact,much better thanwith coils operated from an alternator.Itmay be possible to produce the brush by impulses of onedirection, or even by a steady potential, in which case it wouldbe still more sensitive to magnetic influence.In operating an induction coil with rapidly alternating currents,we realize with astonishment, for the first time, the great importanceof the relation of capacity, self-induction and frequency asregards the general results. The effects of capacity are the moststriking, for in these experiments, since the self-induction andfrequency both are high, the critical capacity is very small, andneed be but slightly varied to produce a very considerable change-The experimenter may bring his body in contact with the terminalsof the secondary of the coil, or attach to one or both terminalsinsulated bodies of very small bulk, such as bulbs,and liemay produce a considerable rise or fall of potential, and greatlyaffect the now of the current through the primary. In the experimentbefore shown, in which a brush appears at a wireattached to one terminal, and the wire is vibrated when the experimenterbrings his insulated body in contact with the otherterminal of the coil, the sudden rise of potential was made evident,Imay show you the behavior of the coil in another mannerwhich possesses a feature of some interest. I have here a little lightfan of aluminum sheet, fastened to a needle and arranged torotate freelyin a metal piece screwed to one of the terminals ofthe coil. When the coil is set to work, the molecules of the airare rhythmically attracted and repelled. As the force withwhich they are repelled is greater than that with which they areattracted, it results that there is a repulsion exerted on the surfacesof the fan. If the fan were made simply of a metal sheet,the repulsion would be equal on the opposite sides, and wouldproduce no effect. But if one of the opposing surfaces is screened,or if, generally speaking, the bombardment on this side isweakened in some way or other, there remains the repulsion exertedupon the other, and the fan is set in rotation. The screeningis best effected by fastening upon one of the opposing sidesof the fan insulated conducting coatings, or, if the fan is madein the shape of an ordinary propeller screw, by fastening on one