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 sense the mythbusters having to do another redo Archimedes death ray. It should work this time.
real rednecks never say “hold muh beer..” we do it with the beer still in our hand.
“When I was a child we did this on a smaller scale with a magnifying glass that we got at the 5 and dime.”
School band room. One of those cheap magnifying glasses, a nice sunny windowsill, and a roll of caps! Fun!
A bazillion ants will testify as to the power of a magnifying class in the hands of a child. This is nothing new.
Did some experiments with it, and truth is, it is very dangerous. Also, with this kind of light concentration, you NEED serious eye protection, even the light reflecting off of your target and being scattered back to you, an inflict some real damage.
It was great fun for a while, even used it to cause "rocks" to explode. I got tired of it after a few days, put it away, where it eventually got scratched up and became useless, so I threw it out.
If I had to to it again, I would build a proper frame for it. Probably use it for something more advanced, maybe a small steam generator/engine.
But if you take apart your TV how will you watch ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’, ‘Jersey Shore’, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ or ‘American Idol’?
Computer monitors... those I got.
/johnny
It’s a sign of greatness. :)
In the mid-seventies, there was a live action TV show every Saturday with superheros Shazam and Isis.
One of the episodes had some kids (I think) trapped in a mountain.
Shazam started rubbing his hands in the sand at superfast speeds, heating and melting it into a giant lens. He then held it up between the sun and the mountain.
I think Isis used her powers to make it a clear day or something.
They made a, “Laser,” which blew the side of the mountain off, and rescued the kids.
All the while, I was yelling at the TV...”LAAAME!!”
I thought it was just multitasking?
Using a variety of thermometers and materials with different ignition points (including popcorn and hotdogs) we determined the best high noon midsummer temperature it would produce at something like 1000 degrees Farenheit.
You'll need a small saw to cut the spiral into the mylar. Been a while but I think there's a pattern available on the net.
These are not kids' toys.
We were able to use it to light up a Sunday newspaper with just moonlight, and you could read text even on a starless night.
I kept it in the garage for many years then one day I noticed it was focusing the light from the garage window onto a piece of wood ~ which was clearly hot.
That's when I took it apart.
It’s the alcohol consumption while multitasking is what makes it great. :)
But at what is the effective range to kill zombies.
I would have to lie to you, to confirm your post.
What's that you say? Speak up, sonny!
Yep. We continue to be dumbed down to the stone age.
ALGOL ~ and a number of others ~ take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_programming_languages Many of them are old friends
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