High-voltage physics - with David Ricketts

Through incredible demonstrations, David Ricketts deploys high-voltage science to explain how spark generators, ion-powered motors and aircraft work.

This talk was recorded at the Ri on 24 June 2023.

See the wonders of elusive plasma toroids and the magical Gassiot Fountain, often used as the grand finale of Victorian high-voltage science demonstrations. Of course no high-voltage talk would be complete without (several) Tesla coils! You'll see metre-long sparks illuminating the Theatre, as they arc and dance to the musical beat of David's Tesla coil orchestra.

In the tradition of the Ri, this talk is 100% demonstration and amazement – no slides here.

Prof David Ricketts is an Innovation Fellow in the Technology and Entrepreneurship Centre at Harvard University. He works with organisations around the globe, such as Mastercard, Ubisoft, Disney, General Motors, Dell and Ferarri to accelerate innovation.

David is also an accomplished academic, having his work appear twice in Nature as well as other distinguished publications and books. He is recipient of the National Science Foundation (US) CAREER award and the DARPA Young Faculty Award for his work on nano-electromagnetic devices. His innovations include a re-programmable, self-assembling matter, an American football tracking for sports visualisation with Disney/ESPN, and an advanced wireless power systems for next-generation cars with General Motors Research.

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[melbournewolf]

Just caught this, my dad apprenticed under his father was also an electrician. He's a Glaswegian Scot, who educated himself up as an Electrical Engineer, who went on to become a lecturer in Physics and Mathematics and is my inspiration as well as my hero. Thankyou so much for giving me some warm and fuzzy niceness in reverie

[davidahiwaaynet]

Great presentation. Thanks for allowing us to follow your demonstration! Love seeing things taken out of their museum cases and made to work again. I really feel this.

[davidwhatever]

A wonderful lecture, I don't think ive seen a live lecture with anywhere near as many complex demonstrations in one go; pulling them all off is extremely impressive.

[andycordy]

What a show! The plasma toroid was the most extraordinary thing. I'm flabbergasted.

[brushhead]

Wow that's the most amazing lecture I've ever seen. I'm an electrical engineer working in power electronics. I wonder how many young people were inspired into a new career path from that? If so welcome and enjoy it.

[RWBHere]

Thank-you. It's great to see some of the original equipment being used in demonstrations. Much appreciated! 🙂👍

[ryanrobison]

A couple of my grade school teachers would do demonstrations similar to some of these. I also had an incredibly good lecture in a chemistry class about why the scientific method was so important that I still remember today, over a decade later.

That combined with a bunch of visits to science museums and presentations ended up making me get into a science related field.

I'm really glad there are people like him keeping the art of demonstration alive!! There's absolutely no better way to learn anything, imo, than actually being able to see the process and effect in person.

[SnowyBrighton]

I normally listen to these to learn and fall asleep to and keep coming back until it’s done over a couple of nights. However, this was fantastic and I couldn’t stop watching. Absolutely amazing and by far one of my most favourite lectures in a long time, if not of all time. ❤️

[MrGeoffHilton]

It's Christmas every day with RI lectures, very nostalgic even though they are current.

[deformityy]

"it's a precious antique"
*BLOWS IT UP*

man I love science

[geoffgeoff]

As an electrician, I went to a house where lightning hit the TV antenna. It blew a hole in the tile roof. The TV coax had NO copper in it. Power points were blown off walls. 240 volt cables had NO copper in them. Just plastic spagetti.

[TheMrDrMs]

I used to go to a good number of demonstrations similar to this, and of other sciences when I was young (90's, NYC, USA) and I always loved them. Found this channel a couple years ago, and just love watching these. I can't wait until I can bring my kid to some similar events, just a couple more years. Thanks for the fun demo!

[JamesGittins-dn]

Thank you very much professor David Ricketts

[peteleoni]

Is this the "how not to do a demo" demo? If so it was a complete success. (-:

[robertedwards]

I am nearly 70years and this has shown me some of things that I have read about and studied as I worked in very high voltage and current and plasma was all ways problem and the smell of ozone always brings back the lab memories of years ago

[peterrenn]

Superb. - why the place isn't packed is baffling. The historical continuity (so many legendary scientists have lectured in this room) and the power of science to amaze and inspire makes the RI lecture series something everyone should be very proud of.

[rbee]

Research/theoretical/etc. Scientists truly deserve everything and all the support. The fact that they don't get it, and are often spitefully denied, yet still devote their lives and take the time to inform us all just proves all the more that they truly are the best of us.

[ooSpyderoo]

The pioneers that have been in that lecture theatre is amazing, must be a great buzz to be involved in that.

[onebylandtwoifbysearunifby]

I mainly do theoretical physics, but this demonstration - filled presentation was exceptional. Good reminder that physics actually "works"! 👍

[canonest]

from start to end, chills down my spine. what a great lecture, must be cherished, must be shared.