Thompson’s “solar scorcher” device.
Posted on 03/29/2013 10:04:57 AM PDT by null and void
Plastic sheet focuses sun light to the point that it can melt pennies, boil water, more Grant Thompson, also known by the online moniker “The King of Random”, has posted a wildly popular video on YouTube in which he hacks an old, 50-inch TV to remove a plastic sheet from it for use as a “solar scorcher.”
Thompson’s “solar scorcher” device.
A bit more specifically, Thompson removed the TV’s front screen and separated the three parts that make up the component. Of the pieces, the TV’s Fresnel Lens displays a perfect ratio, Thompson notes, as it allows him to focus the sun’s rays onto a tiny spot or target.
The target spot which a TV’s Frensel lens creates.
When focused, the temperature on this spot reaches 2000 F which, as Thompson demonstrates, is hot enough to ignite wood, melt pennies, explode glass bottles, melt concrete, and more. Much more as a matter of fact.
An egg after it was exposed to Thompson’s DIY laser.
What’s particularly noteworthy about this project is the fact that when the lens is unfocused, it’s harmless. Only when it’s positioned right will it super-focus the sun’s light.
The following videos come from this project. The first is a demonstration on how Thompson hacked open the TV; after that is a 4-minute clip that shows Thompson burning various objects.
To see more of Grant Thompson’s projects, clear a few hours from your schedule to check out his website, thekingofrandom.com
I would expect a technical publication to be a little more precise in their language, this is hardly a laser.
I'm sure no FReeper would ever actually do this...
Must find old 50” tv...
Is that really noteworthy? Is this the first lens anyone has developed where being unfocused has an impact on performance?
Ya know my parents have an old 50” in their garage they ain’t using anymore...
I'm going out to the shop to look for old flat-screen monitors. I know I've got some out there....
/johnny
/johnny
When I was a young’n there was a mail-order company called Edmund Scientific Corporation. They sold fresnel lenses as well as a bunch of other cool stuff like prisms and optical equipment for geeky kids like me.
All types of stuff on Youtube with this kind of stuff.
Look up solar heaters. People have used fresnel lenses and/or parabolic reflectors to heat water. all sorts of things.
"No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"
That would be great. “Hold muh beer” should be included as well. There are a bunch of smart FReepers, we could probably have some sweet videos to watch...and plenty of new prayer threads. :)
When I was a child we did this on a smaller scale with a magnifying glass that we got at the 5 and dime. We could put ours in a pocket or book bag.
Archimedes would be PROUD!
Ah yes, with a sunny day and a good magnifying glass, no anthill was safe..........
Oh cool! Gosh, it’s been too many years...
Last time I browsed one of their catalogs as a kid, NASA was building the Saturn V. God, I feel old... ;-)
Old guy that jumped out of the tub and ran naked down the street yelling "Eureka!", which is Greek for "The water is too hot!". That guy? ;)
/johnny
I really enjoyed just browsing the catalog, too. Great magnets and experiments.
/johnny
We still have a course in FORTRAN here.
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