The Shadow of Great Britain

184: Chapter 130 Arthur’s Electronic Theory_2 184: Chapter 130 Arthur’s Electronic Theory_2 Arthur had barely finished speaking when the gentlemen and ladies present all burst into laughter, and the atmosphere of the venue became much more congenial.

Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, Arthur couldn’t help but add a couple more words, “Of course, Father Noiret’s research achievements don’t stop there.

As a great electrical researcher, he has conducted many interesting experiments.

For example, hanging a young man from the ceiling with insulating silk thread and then charging his body, one would find that objects nearby, such as paper and coins, would involuntarily be attracted to him, and if someone approached, it could even cause electrical sparks to fly.

Or that a person charged with electricity, if injured, would not bleed normally—instead, the blood would spurt out of the wound like electricity.”

As the conversation with the crowd became more animated, Eld inside the cage felt a chill run from head to toe.

He had thought being a scientific assistant was a cushy job—no need to strenuously study science, and he could show off at social events.

But now he had realized, whether it was lusting after beauty or despising science, sooner or later it would be the death of you.

After Arthur said this, he picked up the discharge rod and walked up to Eld, consoling him, “Don’t worry, didn’t you claim to be an insulator to science?

If that’s true, not even Sir Isaac Newton’s universal gravitation could do anything to you, and jumping off a building or whatever wouldn’t matter.

Eld, it’s just a little bit of electric current, take it easy.”

“Arthur, you son of a…”

But before Eld could finish his statement, Arthur had already started to accelerate the hand crank generator.

Electrical arcs flickered in the air, and all one could hear was the crackling and popping of electricity as strings of current, like silver snakes, continuously struck the Faraday cage.

Eld was just starting to realize what was happening and was preparing to be afraid, but after being dumbfounded for a while, he realized he didn’t feel like he was being electrocuted at all.

Not only that, but there was a pleasant breeze in the cage that blew his unsecured hat onto the floor.

Eld, somewhat skeptical, touched the inner wall of the cage, and after confirming that he was really unharmed, he instantly became emboldened.

Picking up his hat from the ground, Eld spoke with relaxed ease, “Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, I…

uh, Arthur, what’s that phenomenon called again?

Hmm?

Electrostatic shielding?

Oh!

Right!

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been shielded!”

Just as Eld said, he was indeed shielded, because everyone’s attention was focused on Arthur.

The crowd exclaimed in amazement, the ladies widened their eyes, not understanding why Eld wasn’t electrocuted.

And a few guests who held a grudge against Eld couldn’t help but reveal a slight look of disappointment.

With the previous set-up, they had thought today’s validation by Arthur was to prove just how much the hand-cranked generator would wear Eld out.

The generals, however, were clearly still focused on military applications.

General Cochrane was the first to inquire, “Mr.

Hastings, does this mean that electricity has no lethal effect on medieval canned knights?”

General Smith pondered, stroking his chin, “There wasn’t a breeze just now, so why did that fellow Eld’s hat get blown to the ground?

Eld, did you move around inside there?”

Mrs.

Cordington, the hostess, wore a smiling face, very pleased with Arthur’s demonstration that evening, “Mr.

Hastings, people say you rank second only to Mr.

Faraday as Britain’s electromagnetism researcher.

But in my opinion, you may be slightly behind Michael Faraday in research, but in witty explanation and demonstration, you are certainly the best.

Next, will you explain to us the profound principle behind this?”

Arthur just smiled, “Actually, this isn’t anything profound.

Regarding the research on this ‘Faraday cage,’ Mr.

Faraday and I simply built on the results of his mentor, Sir Humphry Davy.”

It was then that Mrs.

Copper, who had been quietly watching everything with widened eyes of curiosity, couldn’t hold back any longer.

Sir Davy wasn’t just an outstanding scientist; he was also a former celebrity of British society, and as an important figure in London’s high society, Mrs.

Copper certainly maintained a good friendship with him.

Seizing the opportunity, Mrs.

Copper, who’d been quiet until then, asked, “Mr.

Hastings, what does this cage have to do with Sir Davy?

Could it be one of his posthumous works?”

Upon hearing this, Arthur just laughed and picked up the oil lamp beside him, “Sir Davy’s name is well-known, so I assume you are all quite familiar with his invention.”

Colonel Elliot bent over to look at the oil lamp covered with a layer of copper mesh, then suddenly slapped his forehead and asked, “Isn’t this the Davy lamp?

There’s a mine on my father’s estate, and the miners working there all use these for lighting.”

Arthur nodded slightly, “That’s right, this is indeed the Davy lamp.

In 1814, coal mines in places like Newcastle and Cardiff in Britain experienced several methane gas explosions caused by the flames of mining lamps, resulting in thousands of miners being killed or injured.

Upon hearing this news, Sir Davy immediately shifted his research focus to improving mining lamps.

After studying for several months, he discovered that covering the exterior of an oil lamp with a copper mesh would mean that even if explosive gases penetrated inside the lamp, the gas combustion could be confined within the copper mesh, preventing the flame from spilling out and causing an entire mine to explode.”