Abstract
A Van de Graaff generator is used to make hair stand on end, generate sparks and so on.
Portable
Yes
Principles Illustrated
Electric fields and electric forces.
Video
Download video (right-click and save as, 6 MB): Vandegraaff.m4v
NCEA & Science Curriculum
SCI 1.2, PHYS 1.3, PHYS 2.6
Instructions
Turn the crank and watch the sparks! Or stand on an insulated floor (or polystyrene board) with a hand on the generator and make hair stand up on a dry day. Or make threads taped to the generator stand up like hair. Or tape a Styrofoam cup full of Styrofoam peanuts to the top and turn on the generator, causing the peanuts to fly out. Or shock students (less painful on the knuckles).
It is also possible to do more sophisticated demonstrations such as charging by induction.
Safety
The spark can make a person jump. Do not allow people with pacemakers or other medical electronics to use the device. Individual teachers are responsible for safety in their own classes. Even familiar demonstrations should be practised and safety-checked by individual teachers before they are used in a classroom.
Individual teachers are responsible for safety in their own classes. Even familiar demonstrations should be practised and safety-checked by individual teachers before they are used in a classroom.
Related Resources
Capacitor Spark
Teaching Resources
Would you like to contribute lesson suggestions? Contact us.
References
PIRA 5A50.30, PIRA 5B10.10
Credits
This teaching resource was developed with support from
The MacDiarmid Institute
Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington