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Have you ever wanted to store electricity? A Leyden jar does just that, and you can make one yourself.



  1. Make a Leyden Jar Step 1.jpg
    Cut a 12.5cm long piece of a wire coat hanger and bend one end into the shape of a hook.
  2. Make a Leyden Jar Step 2.jpg
    Cut a square of wood 15mm thick large enough to cover the mouth of a glass tumbler or jar.
  3. Make a Leyden Jar Step 3.jpg
    Make a hole in the center of the wooden strip and fix the hook to it.
  4. Make a Leyden Jar Step 4.jpg
    Make a chain of paper clips and suspend it on the hook.
  5. Make a Leyden Jar Step 5.jpg
    Stick aluminum foil on the lower half of the tumbler, both inside and outside.
  6. Make a Leyden Jar Step 6.jpg
    Place the wooden strip along with the hook and the chain of paper clips in such a way that the chain remains suspended inside the glass.
  7. Make a Leyden Jar Step 7.jpg
    Crumple another piece of aluminum foil into a ball. Press the open end of the hook into this ball.
  8. Make a Leyden Jar Step 8.jpg
    Strip the insulation from both ends of a long piece of insulated wire.
  9. Make a Leyden Jar Step 9.jpg
    Set one end of the wire on the foil outside the tumbler and affix it with tape. Connect the other end with the pipe of your water tap. Your Leyden jar is ready to be tested.
  10. Make a Leyden Jar Step 10.jpg
    Charge the jar by rubbing a comb against a woolen cloth and touching the ball of aluminum foil with it. Repeat many times.
  11. Make a Leyden Jar Step 11.jpg
    Shape a hanger wire about 20 cm long and into a semicircle. Stick a few layers of tape in the middle.
  12. Make a Leyden Jar Step 12.jpg
    Hold the wire by the taped part and touch one end of it to the aluminum foil outside the glass and the other end to with the ball. Just before it touches the ball you will observe a spark flashing out of the ball. This is the discharge of that electricity from the jar.
  13. Make a Leyden Jar Intro.jpg

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  • Make sure that the entire apparatus is dry.
  • Never touch the aluminum foil ball while charged because it can be lethal.


  • Touch the hanger wire only by the taped end or you may get a shock.
  • Ensure that if you intend to create a large jar, that you understand Leyden jars thoroughly because they can store enough electricity to kill you.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape
  • Aluminum foil
  • Glass tumbler or jar
  • Wooden strip
  • Glue
  • Hanger wire
  • Paper clips
  • Wire coat hanger
  • Insulated copper wire
  • Comb
  • Woolen cloth

Article Info

Categories: Science for Kids

Recent edits by: Jeff, Irishdancer25, Scott Cushman


Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 31,817 times.

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