THE ELECTRIC CHAIR

1. Slide 1 of 22 Priyadarshini Bhagwati College of Engineering ( Affiliated to R.T.M.N.U. Declared by UGC under act 1956) THE ELECTRIC CHAIR PRESENTED BY ABHILASH.A.MENDE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF Ms. S.B. DHOBLE DATE 31/08/2013

2. Slide 2 of 22 CONTENTS 1. Introduction. 2. History. 3. First Executions. 4. Working. 5. Components. 6. Block diagram. 7. Electrodes, helmet and sponge. 8. Procedure. 9. Famous Facts. 10. Botches. 11. Map of Usage. 12. Conclusion. 13. References.

3. Slide 3 of 22 INTRODUCTION Execution using electric chair is an execution method originating in the United States in 1881. The condemned person is strapped to a wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body. Fig. 1: An African-American prisoner is prepared for execution in Sing-Sing Prison in 1900.

4. Slide 4 of 22 HISTORY It was invented by Dr. Alfred Southwick, who was a dentist, and later designed by Harold Brown and Arthur Kennelly, employees of Thomas Edison. Brown intended to use alternating current (AC), then emerging as a potent rival to direct current (DC), which was still in commercial development. Brown and Edison publicly killed many animals with AC for the press, driven by Edison's claim that AC was more lethal than DC. Fig. 2: Executing an elephant, filmed by Thomas Edison

5. Slide 5 of 22 FIRST EXECUTIONS The first person to be executed by the electric chair was William Kemmler in New York's Auburn Prison on August 6, 1890. The first woman to be executed in the electric chair was Martha M. Place, executed at Sing Sing Prison on March 20, 1899. Left: William Kemmler Right: Martha Place Fig. 3 Fig. 4

6. Slide 6 of 22 WORKING Once the condemned person is attached to the chair, various cycles of alternating current is passed through the individual's body. This causes fatal damage to the internal organs (including the brain). The first jolt of electric current causes immediate unconsciousness and brain death; the second one causes fatal damage to the vital organs. Death is frequently caused by electrical overstimulation of the heart.

7. Slide 7 of 22 The Electrocution Process works on the most basic principle of electricity: Voltage divided by resistance results in flow of current. In this case, the human body itself acts as a resistor against the voltage fed to it. Fig. 6: The principle behind the electrocution system

8. Slide 8 of 22 COMPONENTS The power supply consists of a 208 volt primary, 2640 volt as a secondary transformer. (with a current of 5Amperes). The control console is a metal cabinet consisting of timing circuitry. Fig. 7: An electric chair with the control panel on its left.

9. Slide 9 of 22 BLOCK DIAGRAM Fig. 8: Basic block diagram of the electrocution system

10. Slide 10 of 22 ELECTRODES Electrodes are made of solid brass. They are connected to the subjects legs during the execution. Through these electrodes, the electricity disperses inside the body. Fig. 9: A set of electrodes used in an execution pictured at right

11. Slide 11 of 22 HELMET Its composed of 2 parts. An outer helmet is made of leather. The inner one is made up of sponge and wire mesh. Fig. 10: The helmet pictured on the right was used in the Massachusetts State Prison from 1901 to 1947

12. Slide 12 of 22 SPONGE Salt water, is a good conductor of electricity. Having the brine-soaked sponge causes the electricity to move in a more efficient line, thus killing the prisoner faster. Without the sponge, the electricity would simply disperse over the body, meeting with a lot of resistance, causing the body to cook, and death would be much more agonizing. Fig. 5: An execution can go horribly wrong if the chair is not properly set up

13. Slide 13 of 22 PROCEDURE The subject is shaved to prevent burning of hair. Sponges are soaked in salt water and helmet is installed on subjects head. The subject is strapped to the chair The electrodes are connected to subjects legs. The power supply is switched ON. A current of 0.070 ampere causes heart problems and may be fatal. On the basis of this fact, 2000-2200 volts at 5-6 amperes for 60 seconds is passed through the body. This step is repeated with certain variations in voltage until execution is accomplished.

14. Slide 14 of 22 FAMOUS FACTS In December 1942, Winston Churchill proposed that Adolf Hitler, if caught, should be summarily executed in an electric chair. A number of states allow the condemned person to choose between electrocution and lethal injection. The last use of the chair was on January 16, 2013, when Robert Gleason, Jr. decided to go to the electric chair in Virginia.

15. Slide 15 of 22 BOTCHES In1903, Fred Van Wormer was electrocuted twice, being already dead the 2nd time! On January 12th, 1928, Ruth Snyders execution was stealthily photographed by Tom Howard, a Chicago Tribune reporter. It still remains one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century. Fig. 11: Tom Howard, with ankle camera being fitted Fig. 12: The famous photograph of Ruth Snyders execution

16. Slide 16 of 22 APPLICATIONS The only application of the electric chair is to be used as a means of capital punishment to the accused, thus making society a safe place to live.

17. Slide 17 of 22 MAP OF USAGE Secondary method only Used electric chair previously, but not today Never used the method Fig. 13: Map of usage

18. Slide 18 of 22 CONCLUSION The Electric chair has helped serve justice since its invention and will continue to do so in the near future. Its complex yet interesting nature makes it a fine subject for extensive study.

19. Slide 19 of 22 REFERENCES The Electrical Chair: An Unnatural American History by Craig Brandon. Edison and the Electric Chair: A Story of Light and Death by Mark Essig. The Electric Chair by Miss Milkweed L. Augustine. The History of the Electric Chair by Mary Bellis. Old Sparky: The shocking history of the Electric Chair. AC/DC: The savage tale of 1st standards war by Tom Mcnichol. Have a seat, please by Don Reid.

20. Slide 20 of 22

THE ELECTRIC CHAIR

Documents

electric chair

electrodes electrodes

wooden chair

singsing prison

sing sing prison

alternating current

flow of current

introduction execution