JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 99, NO.

D5, PAGES 10,671-10,677, MAY 20, 1994

A calibrated Franklin chimes

Igor Gonta and Earle Williams

Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge

Abstract. A simplified version of the Franklin chimes is analyzed. A calibrated

Franklin chimes was constructedand tested. The predicted linear variation of
oscillation frequency with potential is verified. Actual results versus theoretical
predictions are given.

Introduction the frequency of oscillation of the sphere to decrease, is of

Benjamin Franklin devised a simple yet intriguing device
to measure electrification in the atmosphere during condi-
tions of foul weather. He constructeda systemof bells, one
of which was attached to a conductorthat was suspended
vertically above his house. The device is illustrated in a
well-known painting of Franklin in Figure 1 [Cohen, 1985].
The elevated conductor acquired a potential due to the
electric field in the atmosphere and caused a brass ball to
oscillate between two bells. The purpose of this study is to
extend Franklin's idea by constructing a set of "chimes"
which will operate both in fair and in foul weather condi-
tions. In addition, a mathematicalrelationshipwill be estab-
lished between the frequency of oscillation of a metallic
sphere in a simplified geometry and the potential on one
plate due to the electrificationof the atmosphere.Thus it will
be possible to calibrate the "Franklin Chimes" and to obtain
a nearly instantaneous measurement of the potential of the
elevated conductor in both fair and foul weather conditions.
the order of 2% of the force due to the applied electric field
V/d.
We analyze the problem using energy principles. The
energy gained by the sphere in one traverse is
qlEl(d - 2R) (1)
Here, E is the electric field between the plates given by V/d
where V is the potential between the plates and d is the plate
spacing. The charge q acquired by a conductive sphere in
contact with a plate in the presence of a uniform imposed
field is given analytically by [Elster and Geltel, 1913]
q= -•- (3e0)
• 4rrR
2 (2)

Theory
The basic principles involved in the operation of the
modified chimes shown in Figure 2 can be analyzed on the
basisof simple electrostatics.The overall geometryconsists
of a metallic sphere suspendedby an insulating thread
between two parallel plates separatedby a distance d. One
plate is raised to a high potential V, while the other plate is
grounded. Initially, the sphere has only a small residual
chargeon its surface. An electric field is present between the
plates. This electric field has two components. The first
componentis due to the potential between the plates and has
a magnitude of V/d. The second componentis more subtle
and is due to the charge that resides on the surface of the
sphere and is acquired by the sphere when it makes contact
with the plates. This charge has an infinite set of image
chargesbecause of the presence of the two parallel conduc-
tive plates[Pumplin, 1969].This infinite set of imagecharges
createsa nonuniform electric field which is superimposedon
the uniform V/d field between the plates. To a first approx-
imation we will first ignore the effect of the imagesand will
compute a simple formula for the frequency of oscillation of
the sphereas a function of the potential on the plates. Later,
it will be shown that the image force, which actually causes
Copyright 1994 by the American GeophysicalUnion.
Paper number 94JD00087. Figure 1. Portrait of Benjamin Franklin with chimes to his
0148-0227/94/94JD-00087505.00 left. (Courtesy of Burndy Library.)

10,671
10,672 GONTA AND WILLIAMS: A CALIBRATED FRANKLIN CHIMES

FRANKLIN CHIMES
OSCILLATION INDUCED BY ELECTRIC FIELD

H•. -q- - HIGH

VOLTAG
E •l- VOLTAG
E
FROM E•_____ -
ATMOSPHER FROM
ATMOSPHERE

HI(•H

VOLTAG
E•
FROM
ATMOSPHERE

-c- -d- -e-

Figure 2. Illustrationof oscillationset up by an appliedelectricfield.

where R is the radius of the sphereand e0 is the permittivity

of free space. The energy gained in (1) is equal to the energy
lost in the collision VR
I 7r3E0
f= •- m(d
3_ 2Rd
2) (4)

2
my
(3)
Here, m is the massof the sphere and v is its velocity across
the gap between the plates. Now, using (1), (2), (3), and the
facts that the time is the distance divided by the mean speed
of travel and f = 1/2t, we derive the formula for the
frequency of oscillation of the sphere as a function of
potential between the plates:
Equation (4) shows that the frequency of oscillationof the
sphereis linearwith potential.This resultis completelynonin-
tuitiveyet is supportedby the measureddata, as shownbelow
in this paper. However, the observedfrequenciesare greater
than the predictionsbasedon (4). To improvethe accuracyof
the predictionwe mustincludein the calculationthe coefficient
of restitutionof the oscillatingspheresince it experiencesan
inelasticcollisionupon hittingthe plate. The finite velocity on
reboundfrom the plate reducesthe sphere'stransittime across

HorizontalVelocityof the Sphere BetweenParallelPlates

0.6 0.6

0.4

DistanceFrom PointMidway BetweenPlates(cm)

Figure 3. Horizontalvelocityof the spherebetweenparallelplates.In steadystate,the velocitybehavior
is symmetric.The horizontallimits of the plot spanthe rangeof the sphere'smotionbetweenthe parallel
plates, i.e., from -(d/2 - R) to (d/2 - R).
 GONTA AND WILLIAMS' A CALIBRATED FRANKLIN CHIMES 10,673

Frequencyof Oscillationvs. Coefficientof Restitution

40

• 30

10

Coefficient of Restitution

Figure 4. Oscillation frequency versus coefficientof restitution, a, following the prediction in (14).

the gap and thereby increasesits oscillationfrequency. We
againbeginwith the same derivationbasedon energyprinci-
ples but now we realize that the kinetic energy lost in the
inelastic collision is
my2- m(av)2 my2(1- a 2)
2 2
The sphere acquires a certain velocity in one traverse,
contacts the plate, loses some velocity in an inelastic colli-
sion, and rebounds to repeat the process in the other
direction. The ratio of the departurevelocity at the left plate
to the arrival velocity at the right plate is precisely equal to
the coefficientof restitution a. Since the displacementof the
sphere
isgivenbyx = at2/2, thevelocityisproportional
to
the squareroot of position. This can be seenin the velocity
plot in Figure 3. It is assumed that in a steady state
oscillation the system is symmetric. Solving as before but
now using (5) instead of (3), we finally arrive at the formula
for the frequency of oscillationof the sphere:
VR
• 'rr3eo
f= •- m(d (1+a)
3- 2Rd
2)(1- a)
oscillation exhibits a runaway phenomenon as a --• 1, a
condition of zero energy dissipitation. The dependence of
the frequency on a differs from the formula in the work of
Gonta and Williams [1992] which was not a self-consistent
solution. By accurately measuring a, one can achieve accu-
rate predictionsof the frequency of oscillationof the sphere.
(5)
Alternatively, this is a good method of measuring the actual
value of the coefficient of restitution of the oscillating
sphere.
We still need to substantiate the former statement that the
retarding force on the sphere due to the infinite set of images
is a smallfraction of the q V/d force which is the causeof the
oscillation of the sphere. The force due to the images is
derived from the potential due to an infinite set of images
[Pumplin, 1969]. The expressionfor the electric field due to
the infinite set of images is the following infinite sum:
= q • (2nd)12ndl
(6)
(2x + (2n + 1)d) 2x + (2n + 1)d
(7)

The relationship between frequency of oscillation and coef- Upon multiplying (7) by the charge, one obtains the expres-
ficient of restitution a is shownin Figure 4. As expected,the sion for the force on the sphere. The infinite sum does not

Electric Field Between Plates Due to Infinite Set of

Images
2O 20

15

10

o,' • o -5

-lo -10

-15 -15

-20 -20

PositionBetweenPlates(cm)

Figure 5. Electric field between the plates due to infinite set of image charges, calculated accordingto
(15). The horizontal limits of the plot spanthe range of the sphere'smotion between the parallel plates,
i.e., from - (d/2 - R) to (d/2 - R).
10,674 GONTA AND WILLIAMS: A CALIBRATED FRANKLIN CHIMES

Table 1. Experimental Parameters The field of the image chargesapproximatedby the linear
and cubicterms in (8) can be comparedto the uniformV/d
Sphere 1, Sphere 2, field between the plates. The force due to the linear term of
Ping-PongBall StyrofoamBall the imagefield in (8) is therefore
Mass
2.32x 10-3, Kg 1.8 x 10-3, Kg q2B(d/2-R)
(10)
Radius 4,n'E0
1.83 x 10-2, m 2.60 x 10-3 m Taking the ratio of this force to the q V/d force, one obtains
Plate Spacing, m the following'
7.35 x 10-2 1.0 x 10-1
rr2R213(d/2
- R)
(V/m2) (V/m2) (11)
678 334

Substituting the actual parameters associatedwith the

spheresand plate spacingsdisplayedin Table 1 below, one
have a closedform solution,but by plotting the electricfield obtainsapproximately2% for this ratio which is negligible
profile acrossthe gap, as shownin Figure 5, one obtainsa enoughgiven the uncertaintyof the measurement.Thus the
functionwhich closely resemblesthe sum of a cubic and a simplerformula(6) is accurateto within a highdegree.Using
linear function.Using this retardingforce due to the images, thisformula,it is now possibleto predictthe responseof the
we can solve Newton's equationmore accurately: chimesandtherebymonitorthe potentialin the atmosphere.
d2x q2
=
+4,rø(tx +
m•-• qlEI 3) (8)
Experiments
To a first approximationwe can ignore the cubic term and To observeand test the prediction(6), the frequencyof
solve the resulting equation. Doing so, we obtain a more oscillationof the sphere, it was necessaryto constructa
cumbersomeformulafor the frequencyof oscillation,includ- working Franklin chimes. This was accomplishedin two
ing •, the linear variation of the electric field between the ways. First, a working versionwas constructedwhich oscil-
plates due to the images: lated continuouslyon the top floor of the MIT (Massachu-

œ= VR
2•/'rr
5meo• (9)

In
rcR•/•
,rr2R2B2(d-
2R)2
+2B(d
-2R)(2
+11+a22)+ (d- 2R)Bz'2R
-a 2+ 2
rrR •(d/2- R)1- ot2 - (d/2
- R)2'n'2R2]•
2+2

FRANKLIN CHIMES

HIGH VOLTAGE FROM ATMOSPHERE

DETAILED VIEW OF PARALLEL PLATE STRUCTURE

COUNTER CIRCUIT
TO OSCILLOSCOPE
DISPLAYING
FREQUENCY
OF OSCILLATION

LASER BEAM

•7

Figure 6. Illustration of working chimes.

 GONTA AND WILLIAMS' A CALIBRATED FRANKLIN CHIMES 10,675

M.I.T. GREEN
FRANKLIN CH EOMETRY

S-BAND IRADOME

C-BAND
RADOME PLEXIDOME
FAIR WEATHER
ELECTRIC FIELD

Figure 7. Illustrationof high-voltageelectrodeon roof of MIT's Green Buildingand the connectionwith

the chimes on the eighteenth floor.

setts Institute of Technology) Green building. This device
can be seen in Figure 6. A metal cabinet was used to house
the Franklin chimes. The high voltage was brought in from
the roof of the Green building via a high-voltage coax cable
connected to a mast approximately 100 m above the MIT
campus.(Thus in fair weather with an electric field of about
100 V/m a nominal potential of 10 kV can be obtained.) A
schematic of the configuration is shown in Figure 7. Mea-
sures were taken to prevent moisture and leakage currents
on the conductor. To make calibrated measurements, a test
modelof the Franklin chimeswas constructedand the high
voltagewas obtainedfrom a power supply. The test setup
can be seen in Figure 8. The experimental parameters for
two differentspheresused are providedin Table 1. The
resultsfor each of two experimentsare shown in Figures 9
and 10. Each graph showsa theoreticalpredictionof the
frequency of oscillation versus potential with a = 0, the
actualdatagathered
duringthe experiment,
anda "best
curve theoretical fit" with a reasonable a. The values for a
that reasonablyfit the actual data are a = 0.81 for the ping

FRANKLIN CHIMES
TEST MODEL CROSS-SECTION

SIDE VIEW

HIGH VOLTAGE

FRONT VIEW

'• øøl
STROBE LIGHT FREQUENCY COUNTER

Figure 8. Chimes configurationfor laboratory measurements.

10,676 GONTA AND WILLIAMS' A CALIBRATED FRANKLIN CHIMES

Frequencyvs. Voltage
9.0

8.0

THEORY•
•,7.7
7.0
t•=0.81
-x,,•/ •.o
6.0
//•.5.8 *6.4
e5.3
4.0
e4.6

3.0

2.0 .0

1.0

0.0

2 4 6 8 10 12

Voltage (kV.)

Figure 9. Measurements of oscillation frequency versus voltage and comparison with theoretical
prediction for first experimental setup (Table 1).

Frequencyvs. Voltage
4.5

4.0
THEORY . ••,0 4'4
•.0

•=0.44•x•
,•" THEORY
_
3.5

3.0 .•f•

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

2 4 6 8 10 12

Voltage (kV.)

Figure 10. Measurements of oscillation frequency versus voltage and comparison with theoretical
prediction for second experimental setup (Table 1).

pong ball and a = 0.44 for the styrofoam ball. These values
are reasonable since the sphereswere coated with a metallic
paint to make them conductive for the experiment and this
coating increased their respective elasticities. Independent
bounce tests with the ping-pongball confirmedthe value for
a from the actual experiment.
Conclusion
accurate predictions of the frequency can be obtained by
precisely measuring the correct value of a for a particular
sphere. The effect of image chargeswas found to be negli-
gible for the geometriesinvestigated. Further experiments
are being undertaken, with the system shown in Figure 6, to
monitor continuously the frequency of oscillation and there-
fore the potential in the atmosphere.

By modifying the original Franklin chimes to a well-
studied, plate-spheregeometry, it is possibleto predict the
frequencyof oscillationof the spheregiven the potentialon
an electrode elevated in the atmosphere. A reasonable
linearity of voltage and frequency was obtained and very
Acknowledgments. We thank S. Heckman for solutions to the
nonlinear differential equations and a very persistent reviewer for
improvements to the manuscript. Igor Gonta's research has been
partially supported by the Houghton Fund in MIT's Center for
Meteorology and Physical Oceanography. S. Finburg assistedwith
the mast design.
 GONTA AND WILLIAMS: A CALIBRATED
References
Cohen, B. I., Benjamin Franklin's Science, pp. 89-91, Harvard
University Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1985.
Elster, V., and H. Geitel, Zur Infiuenztheorie der Niederschlags-
elektrizitfit, Phys. Z., 14, 1287-1292, 1913.
Gonta, I., and E. Williams, Proceedings of the Ninth International
Conference on Atmospheric Electricity, vol. 2, pp. 632-636, A. I.
Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, St. Petersburg, Russia,
1992.
FRANKLIN CHIMES 10,677
Pumplin, J., Application of Sommerfeld-Watson transformation to
an electrostatics problem, Am. J. Phys., 37, 737-739, 1969.
I. Gonta and E. Williams, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and
Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cam-
bridge, MA 02139.
(Received February 28, 1993; revised January 6, 1994;
accepted January 10, 1994.)