Talk:Georg Wilhelm Richmann
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Needs serious revision
editFirst off, Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning was electricity a year before, in 1752.
And Franklin succeeded, and wasn't killed, because he took precautions based on the earlier deaths of, I seem to recall, one or more French scientists seeking to prove the same thing. So, others died before Richmann. 2601:181:4600:A8C0:0:0:0:FE4C (talk) 00:29, 30 November 2021 (UTC)
Benjamin Franklin Sentry Box Experiment
editI think it would be a good idea to include that Richmann was attempting to duplicate a Benjamin Franklin experiment that the American inventor and political figure had suggested.
On the top of some high tower or steeple, place a kind of sentry-box, big enough to contain a man and an electrical stand. From the middle of the stand, let an iron rod rise and pass bending out of the door, and then upright 20 or 30 feet, pointed very sharp at the end. If the electrical stand be kept clean and dry, a man standing on it when such clouds are passing low, might be electrified and afford sparks, the rod drawing fire to him from a cloud.
Of course, this is the cause of Richmann's death as an insulated rod attracts lightning due to build up of charge on the insulation of the platform. Although that would be original research as I don't know a primary source dealing with this known principle and applying it to the Sentry Box experiment. MichaelJPierce (talk) 14:43, 20 May 2018 (UTC)