Re: Haunted House Coil Use

["Mark Broker" <broker-at-uwplatt.edu> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Hi, all

I've been following this thread with a bit of interest, as I built my coil for
my University's Physics department to use for displays both in the college
classroom, and also in local elementary and middle schools.  Unfortunately,
that
meant I had to turn it over to them when I got done :-((  At least I get pretty
much free use of it for the next 9 months.  :-)

Discovery World here in Milwaukee, WI used to run a large (10 footers each)
twin
coil system.  That was about 10 years ago, and the place moved next to the
museum, so they may not be running anymore.  But, as I recall, the only warning
they gave was regarding the sound ("Cover your ears at all times!" they
warned.)

Also, the University of Wisconsin - Madison Physics Dpt has a public show
(can't
remember the name) each year geared for younger elementary-middle school kids.
I saw it about two years ago.  They have quite a few TC displays, including a
man sitting/standing on an insulated table "playing."  They also had an
audience
member sit in a chain-link Faraday cage while they ran it (wished they'd chosen
me...).  They warned about the noise *AND* that it may cause problems with
pacemakers.

Personally, I feel that the current populus of the US especially is too "safe."
("Of course coffee is hot.  But someone may not realize that coffee is hot, and
sue us (and win) if they spill the coffee on their lap.  Therefore, we need to
put 'Caution: contents may be hot' on the cup so that people will know that
COFFEE IS HOT."  McDonalds)  Go about operation with some level of intelligent,
"child-proof" safety (key-lock switches, etc), and post a bunch of "High
Voltage
Effects Used" signs all over the entrance in easy-to-spot locations.  IMHO,
anything more, such as having people sign waivers, is completely
nonsensical and
grossly overboard.


Just my two cents.

Mark