[TCML] RE: [] STRIATIONS

[Ed Phillips]

    Forgot to mention that the simplest vacuum experiment of all is 
quite entertaining.  Get a glass tube [or maybe even clear plastic] tube 
of at least 1" diameter, put a rubber stopper with a nail through it 
[head inside of course] in each end, rig a fitting [maybe through the 
stopper] to the pump, hook it up to an ignition coil, fire up the coil 
and start pumping.  You'll see all sorts of interesting discharges in 
the tube and, because the output of the spark coil has a much bigger 
voltage on one peak of the output, effects related to polarity.  You can 
even run the ignition coil with a "light dimmer driver" so that the 
whole project is at most a couple of hours work or so.

Ed