Using Electricity

Q: WHAT IS A "VAN DE GRAAFF MACHINE"? A: A Van de Graaff machine is a mechanical- electric device which produces extremely high voltage at low, safe levels of electric current. It also goes by the name "Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator." We usually encounter these devices in high school, where our physics teachers use them to raise the hair of some lucky student. :)

Van Der Graaf Generator The charge flows from plate 2 A negative charge builds up on plate 1 A bundle of electrons is deposited on plate 2 The van der graaf generator causes electrons to be spread evenly on the surface of the middle dome. The coated ball picks up a bundle of electrons from plate 1 The charge flows back from the van der graaf and the circuit is completed The negative charge moves away from the dome because in the mental there are free electrons The negatively charged ball is repelled by plate 1 The charge flows with the ammeter and the current is registered

ualizations/electrostatics/30- vdgdischarge/VanDeGraffSparkFulll_smoo th.mpghttp://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/8/8.02T/f04/vis ualizations/electrostatics/30- vdgdischarge/VanDeGraffSparkFulll_smoo th.mpg