Slide 1 of 22 Priyadarshini Bhagwati College of Engineering ( Affiliated to R.T.M.N.U. Declared by UGC under act 1956) Department of Electronics Engineering SESSION 2013-14 THE ELECTRIC CHAIR PRESENTED BY ABHILASH.A.MENDE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF Ms. S.B. DHOBLE DATE 31/08/2013
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.