A dramatic demonstration of the principle behind sodium arc lights, by passing an electrical current through a pickle of other salty foods.
More information
More information
Sites 5
Philosophical discussion of the meaning of the experiment, and multimedia files (.AVI, .MOV, .WAV) of the results.
Two enhancements to the standard demonstration apparatus: using a ground fault interrupt (GFI) to reduce the risk of electrocuting the demonstrator, and using potassium chloride (a dietary salt substitute) to produce a pink glow rather than the traditional sodium yellow. Also discusses the mechanism of the single-ended glow.
Details how to build a glowing/flaming Pickle. Includes photos of the apparatus using heavy-gauge wire and glass jars as insulators, and a plugged-in pickle glowing only at one end.
Reader feedback with a list of precautions to be taken when electrocuting pickles, of more humorous than practical value.
(March 18, 1999)
The Glowing Pickle: Born of Boredom. Essay on discoveries made by bored scientists, from Post-It Notes to pickle-based sodium arc lights.
(June 01, 1992)
Details how to build a glowing/flaming Pickle. Includes photos of the apparatus using heavy-gauge wire and glass jars as insulators, and a plugged-in pickle glowing only at one end.
Philosophical discussion of the meaning of the experiment, and multimedia files (.AVI, .MOV, .WAV) of the results.
Two enhancements to the standard demonstration apparatus: using a ground fault interrupt (GFI) to reduce the risk of electrocuting the demonstrator, and using potassium chloride (a dietary salt substitute) to produce a pink glow rather than the traditional sodium yellow. Also discusses the mechanism of the single-ended glow.
Reader feedback with a list of precautions to be taken when electrocuting pickles, of more humorous than practical value.
(March 18, 1999)
The Glowing Pickle: Born of Boredom. Essay on discoveries made by bored scientists, from Post-It Notes to pickle-based sodium arc lights.
(June 01, 1992)
