How Do You Spell LEYDEN PHIAL?

1. A Leyden phial is a type of early capacitor, invented in the mid-18th century by the Dutch physicist Pieter van Musschenbroek. It is a glass jar or bottle coated with a conductive material, such as metal foil, to store and discharge electric charge.

   The Leyden phial consists of a glass container with a cork or stopper, through which a metal rod or conductor passes. The inside and outside surfaces of the glass are coated with separate layers of metal foil, ensuring electrical insulation between them. To charge the Leyden phial, a static electricity source, such as an electrostatic generator or friction, is applied to the metal rod. This causes an accumulation of opposite charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the glass.

   When the Leyden phial is fully charged, it stores electrical energy within the electric field formed by the opposing charges on its surfaces. If the Leyden phial is discharged, the stored energy is released in the form of an electric current. This discharge can occur in a variety of ways, including touch, proximity to a conductor, or by connecting the inner and outer foils with a conducting wire.

   The Leyden phial played a significant role in the early development of electrical experiments and devices, including the study of static electricity and the generation of electrical sparks. Its invention marked an important advancement in the understanding and utilization of electricity, paving the way for further discoveries and technological advancements in the field.

2. See Leyden-jar.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for LEYDEN PHIAL

The term "Leyden phial" originates from the Dutch city of Leiden (also written as "Leyden") and the word "phial", which refers to a small container or bottle. Its etymology goes back to the invention of the Leyden jar, an early form of capacitor used to store static electricity.

The Leyden jar was invented independently by two physicists, Ewald Georg von Kleist in Germany and Pieter van Musschenbroek in the Netherlands, around 1745. Van Musschenbroek, a professor at the University of Leiden, conducted experiments with capacitors and developed a method of storing electric charge using a glass jar partially filled with water.

Since van Musschenbroek was based in Leiden, the jar he used in his experiments became known as the "Leyden jar" or "Leyden bottle".