Steam electricity
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Steam electricity
During the 1840Ôé¼Ôäós, at Cramlington Colliery, Seghill(Sedgehill), Newcastle on Tyne, a workman found that when he acidentally put his hand in a high-pressure jet of steam escaping from a locomotive boiler, a spark was created between his other hand and a nearby metal conductor, giving him an electric shock. This " Seghill incident" was much publicised. Lord Armstrong wrote to Michael Faraday describing the phenomenon and both investigated " steam electricity". Armstrong went on to produce his Hydro-Electric machine, giving one to Faraday. An explanation of the phenomenon as Ôé¼╦£frictional electrification of dropletsÔé¼Ôäó came in 1969 with the renewal of interest in steam electricty following a series of explosions caused by the ignition of chemical vapours during the washing of ships tanks with steam jets
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6331709
© Sheila Terry
1840 1969 Armstrong Explosions Faraday Electric Shock
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in the history of electricity - the "Seghill incident" at Cramlington Colliery, Seghill (Sedgehill), Newcastle on Tyne during the 1840s. The image depicts a workman who accidentally placed his hand in a high-pressure jet of steam escaping from a locomotive boiler. To his astonishment, this act created an electric spark between his other hand and a nearby metal conductor, resulting in an electric shock. The news of this extraordinary event quickly spread, catching the attention of Lord Armstrong who wrote to renowned scientist Michael Faraday to discuss and investigate what they termed as "steam electricity". Inspired by their findings, Armstrong went on to develop his Hydro-Electric machine and generously gifted one to Faraday for further exploration. It wasn't until 1969 that an explanation for this phenomenon emerged with the concept of "frictional electrification of droplets". This renewed interest in steam electricity came about due to a series of explosions caused by chemical vapors igniting during ship tank washing using steam jets. This thought-provoking print not only serves as evidence of early discoveries but also highlights how accidental encounters can lead to groundbreaking scientific advancements. It is through such incidents that we continue our journey towards understanding and harnessing the power around us.
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