Get smart curated videos delivered to your inbox.   SUBSCRIBE
The Kid Should See This

MSI Chicago’s Tesla Coil demonstration

Watch more with these video collections:

A Tesla coil is a device that can transmit electricity wirelessly. It actually creates a huge electrical field that you can even use to power certain electric devices.

Now, it was invented by a gentleman by the name of Nikola Tesla, who was fascinated with electricity. He was super-interested in alternating current devices, that’s a special way of getting electricity from one thing to another thing. But, he also did some experiments with wireless electricity and wireless technology. So, if you’re a fan of any wireless technology, you have Nikola Tesla to thank.

tesla coil at MSI Chicago
MSI Chicago facilitator Austin Green demonstrates the power of a Tesla coil, its toroid and grounding rings, 1.5-million-volts of electrical discharge, a light bulb, and something called a pickle. Watch Science Storms—How It Works: Tesla Coil.

Bonus: Hear what a Tesla coil sounds like, then watch Singing Tesla Coils perform the Inspector Gadget theme.

Austin Green at MSI Chicago
There’s more electricity in the archives:
• CYMATICS: Science + music = audio frequency visualizations
• Electromagnetic Induction, an Alom Shaha Science Demo
Electrified Pickle
• The Museum of Science and Energy’s Van de Graaff Generator

This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.

Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.

🌈 Watch these videos next...

Use a 9-volt battery to break water into its elemental components

Rion Nakaya

The Museum of Science and Energy’s Van de Graaff Generator

Rion Nakaya

The electric eel and other animals that use electricity

Rion Nakaya

Singing Tesla Coils: Inspector Gadget

Rion Nakaya

How do batteries work?

Rion Nakaya

Electromagnetic Induction, an Alom Shaha Science Demo

Rion Nakaya

Electrified Pickle

Rion Nakaya

CYMATICS: Science + music = audio frequency visualizations

Rion Nakaya