written by Robert Morse
published by the Wright Center for Science Education Tufts University

This unique resource integrates the scientific work of Ben Franklin with lab procedures for replicating historic experiments in secondary classrooms. Writings and historical observations are woven into lab descriptions to give students a better insight into Franklin's work. Videos of some of the experiments are also provided. This introductory section describes the history of Franklin's work, and provides details of the equipment that will be used for the entire unit.

• Download 01_Franklin_Lab_Part_I_Intr.pdf - 1628kb Adobe PDF Document

Released under a Copyright, Robert A. Morse and Tufts University.

Published September 1, 2004
Last Modified August 11, 2011

This file is included in the full-text index.
This file has previous versions.

This movie shows a number of electrostatics experiments performed with cellophane tape and other common household objects. It illustrates some of the activities in the "Ben Franklin as my  Lab Partner" curriculum materials.

• Download pointy_tab_blunt_tab.mov - 7800kb Movie File

Released under a This material is copyrighted by the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University. It may be used for non-commercial purposes with attribution.

Published January 1, 2005
Last Modified April 6, 2006

This file has previous versions.

This movie demonstrates the charging of objects, and people, what Franklin described as "Drawing the Fire". It illustrates some of the activities in the "Ben Franklin as my Lab Partner" curriculum materials.

• Download drawing_the_fire.mov - 2579kb Movie File

Released under a This material is copyrighted by the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University. It may be used for non-commercial purposes with attribution.

Published January 1, 2005
Last Modified April 6, 2006

This movie shows the steps in building a Leyden Jar out of a film can and aluminum foil. Several of these will be used in electrostatics experiments that are part of the "Ben Franklin as my Lab Partner" activities.

• Download film_can_leyden_jar.mov - 4035kb Movie File

Released under a This material is copyrighted by the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University. It may be used for non-commercial purposes with attribution.

Published January 1, 2005
Last Modified April 6, 2006

This file contains the template for the sides of the generator used in the Ben Franklin experiments.

• Download 01a_Generator_template.pdf - 103kb Adobe PDF Document

Released under a Copyright, Robert Morse and Tufts University

Published September 1, 2004
Last Modified February 24, 2016

This file has previous versions.