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1996-07-17
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2KB
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42 lines
@X084@X05.@X08241@X03 Mercury Switches
@X08Mercury switches are a switch that uses the fact that mercury metal
conducts electricity@X05,@X08 as do all metals@X05,@X08 but mercury metal is a liquid at room
temperatures@X05.@X08 A typical mercury switch is a sealed glass tube with two
electrodes and a bead of mercury metal@X05.@X08 It is sealed because of mercury@X05'@X08s nasty
habit of giving off brain@X05-@X08damaging vapors@X05.@X08 The diagram below may help to
explain a mercury switch@X05.@X08
@X03 ______________
A / \ B
@X05_____@X08wire @X05+______@X03/@X05__+ @X03 - \
\ @X05(@X08 Hg @X05)@X08@X03 | /
@X03\ _@X05(@X03_@X08Hg@X03_@X05)@X03__|____/
|
|
@X08wire @X05-@X03|
|
|
|
@X08When the drop of mercury @X05(@X08@X05"@X08Hg@X05"@X08 is mercury@X05'@X08s atomic symbol@X05)@X08 touches both
contacts@X05,@X08 current flows through the switch@X05.@X08 If this particular switch was in
its present position@X05,@X08 A@X05-@X08@X05-@X08@X05-@X08B@X05,@X08 current would be flowing@X05,@X08 since the mercury can
touch both contacts in the horizontal position@X05.@X08
B
If@X05,@X08 however@X05,@X08 it was in the | position@X05,@X08 the drop of mercury would only
touch the + contact on the A side@X05.@X08 A
Current@X05,@X08 then could not flow@X05,@X08 since the mercury does not reach both contacts
when the switch is in the verticle position@X05.@X08
This type of switch is ideal to place by a door@X05.@X08 If it were placed in
the path of a swinging door in the verticle position@X05,@X08 the motion of the door
would knock the switch down@X05,@X08 if it was held to the ground by a piece if tape@X05.@X08
This would tilt the switch into the verticle position@X05,@X08 causing the mercury to
touch both contacts@X05,@X08 allowing current to flow through the mercury@X05,@X08 and to the
igniter or squib in an explosive device@X05.@X08 Imagine opening a door and having it
slammed in your face by an explosion@X05.@X08