National Fly a Kite Day is celebrated every year on June 15. On this day, many people across the United States raise their kites into the air. Despite this, many people do not realize the historical significance that this date commemorates.
On June 15, 1752, Benjamin Franklin also decided to fly a kite. During this time period, Franklin conducted many experiments with electricity. As he described in his autobiography, Franklin often demonstrated static electricity to astonished audience members by accumulating a static charge in one jar and then transferring it to another jar.
In 1752, some people thought that perhaps lightning and static electricity were essentially the same phenomenon. However, no one had definitively proven that this was the case. Franklin decided to find out.
This is how he did it:
Franklin tied one end of a silk string to a kite and the other end was passed through a key to a jar that was capable of storing an electrical charge. He then put a dry silk ribbon on the key and stayed inside a barn so as not to get wet. Because he was holding the tape dry, Franklin was able to avoid being electrocuted.
After a while, a storm cloud passed overhead, and the negative electricity traveled up the silken thread, through the key, and into the jar. Franklin was able to confirm that electricity had been transferred from the storm cloud to the faucet because when he touched it, he received an electric shock! This confirmed to him that static electricity and lightning are, in fact, the same thing.
Franklin used this newfound knowledge to invent the lightning rod. A major problem throughout history has been tall buildings being struck by lightning and burning down. By installing a lightning rod, lightning can be safely channeled to earth. Late in his life, Franklin’s own house was struck by lightning, but he had a lightning rod installed, so his own invention saved his house!
National Kite Flying Day is a great time to celebrate and learn about Franklin’s tremendous achievement. However, it is not recommended to fly a kite in a thunderstorm with a key attached. In fact, Franklin was either very lucky or very careful to have survived. Many Franklin fans who have tried to replicate his experiment have been severely electrocuted or killed.
So, on June 15, head to the park. Bring your family, bring a kite and have fun!