5B10.10 Hair on End

While standing on an insulated stool, charge yourself up with a Van de Graaff generator (or use a pom-pom).

Setup Requirements:May need to dry out belt. VDG shown in picture has been replaced by newer one.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: Shock due to high potential.

5B10.25 Confetti (Styrofoam peanuts)

Confetti (Styrofoam peanuts) flies off the ball of an electrostatic generator due to electrostatic repulsion of like charges.

Setup Requirements: May need to dry out belt. VDG shown in picture has been replaced with a newer one.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: Shock due to high potential.

5B10.35 Ball in Electric Field

A variation on the idea of initially uncharged objects being attracted by charged objects involves having a metal ball bounce back and forth between plates connected to ground and sphere of Van de Graff generator. One version of this is called Ben Franklin's bells (on left in photo).

Setup Requirements: Assembled as needed.

Equations: F = qE

Safety Issues: Shock due to high potential.

5B10.40 Electric Field Lines

This device can be used with a high voltage power supply and overhead projector to show field between various electrodes (electric field version of iron filings sprinkled on a magnet).

Setup Requirements: Assembled as needed. Ask ahead of time. Grass seed need to be added shortly before use. Oil may need to be replaced. Old seed may need to be removed. 

Equations: F = qE

Safety Issues: Shock due to high voltage.

5B10.45 Molecule in Electric Field

A model of a molecule lining up in an electric field is available. Two balls on the ends of a rod are placed between plates of a capacitor. The capacitor is charged using a Van de Graff generator. The rod is initially placed at right angles to field. When the plates are charged the model will line up with the field.

Setup Requirements: Assembled as needed. May need to dry out belt. Problem with parts under dome of larger version coming loose.

Equations: F = qE

Safety Issues:Shock due to high potential

5B20.35 Faraday Cage

Radio seems to quit working when placed in cage. A cage of conducting material provides some shielding against electric fields. A new cage is available.

Setup Requirements: Minimal. Turn down volume so you wont hear static when radio inside shield.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: None

Additional Info: Complete shielding is only possible for electrostatic field. To prevent charge inside sphere from affecting outside world ground the sphere. If the field is varying, a short wavelength signal will penetrate the openings in the cage. If you use solid shield a longwave signal of sufficient strength will penetrate shield. 

5B30.30 Lightning Rod

The plate is charged by the larger Van de Graaff generator. The metal plate represents a cloud during a storm. The metal rod could be a lightning rod, tree or you on a golf course.

Setup Requirements: Assembled as needed. Ask ahead of time. May need to dry out belt. VDG shown in picture has been replaced by newer one. Turn out room lights once hooked up.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: Shock hazard due to high potential

5B30.50  Pinwheel and Van de Graaff

Place a pinwheel near the globe of Van de Graaff generator. It will rotate. There are several theories to explain why it rotates including reaction from charges leaving tip and repulsion from charges in space around tip.

Setup Requirements: Minimal. VDG shown in picture has been replaced by newer one.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: High potential shock hazard.