Wimshurst Generator
Wimshurst Generator
Wimshurst Generator

 

Code Number: 5A50.10

Demo Title: Wimshurst Generator

Condition: Good

Principle: Electrostatics

Area of Study: Electricity & Magnetism

Equipment: 

Wimshurst generator, Bell Chimes, Rotating Disk, Lucite Stand for Disk and Chimes.

Procedure:

The Wimshurst Generator and Leyden Jar storage system will work under all conditions.  The bell chimes and rotating disks will work with either the Van de Graff or the Wimshurst machine, although the Wimshurst is preferable because it does not make as much noise.

References:

  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "The Central Scientific Company and Its Apparatus", TPT, Vol. 59, #2, Feb. 2021, p. 94.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "Apparatus Named After Our Academic Ancestors — I ", TPT, Vol. 48, #9, Dec. 2010, p. 604. 
  • Walter Connolly, "The Automatic Electrophorus", TPT, Vol. 29, #4, Apr. 1991, p. 225. 
  • B. Huner, "An Alternate Brush Material for Electrostatic Generators", TPT, Vol. 26, #5, May 1988, p. 265.
  • H. N. Plenaar, "An Electrostatic Friction Machine", TPT, Vol. 3, #5, May 1965, p. 227.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., Wimshrust Machine, AJP, Vol. 92, #12, Dec. 2024, p. 923.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., Wimshurst Machine, AJP, Vol. 80, #5, May 2012, p. 366.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., and Vacek Miglus, "Toy Wimshurst Machine", AJP, Vol. 80, #11, Nov. 2012, p. 984.
  • A. Aresti and A. Delunas, "Erratum: 'Two-Inductor Electrostatic Generator' [Am. J. Phys. 51, 472 (1983)]", AJP, Vol. 51, #9, Sep. 1983, p. 861.
  • A. Aresti and A. Delunas, "Two-Inductor Electrostatic Generator", AJP, Vol. 51, #5, May 1983, p. 472.
  • Markus Zahn, Richard L. Goslin, and Larry F. Wicks, "Self-Excited, Alternating, High-Voltage Generation Using a Modified Electrostatic Influence Machine", AJP, Vol. 42, #4, Apr. 1974, p. 289.
  • Freier and Anderson, "Ea-22", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • "E-180: Dielectric Breakdown - Spheres", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Richard Manliffe Sutton, "E-26", Demonstration Experiments in Physics.
  • Robert A. Morse, "Laboratory Activity 10: The Automatic Electrophorus: An Induction Electrostatic Generator", Teaching about Electrostatics, p. 3 - 34.
  • George M. Hopkins, "Electrical Machines", Experimental Science, p. 369.
  • Julien Clinton Sprott, "4.1, Wimshurst Electrostatic Generator", Physics Demonstrations, ISBN 0-299-21580-6, p.175.
  • Joseph H. Adams, "A Wimshurst Influenced Machine", Harper's Electricity Book For Boys", p. 313.
  • "Make a Static Machine", The Boy Scientist, p. 62.
  • H. N. Pienaar,  "An Electrostatic Friction Machine",  Apparatus for Teaching Physics,  p. 61.
  • R.A. Ford, "Liquid, Gas, and Vacuum Chambers", Homemade Lightning, p. 69 - 70.
  • Urs Lauterburg, "Wimshurst Generator Renovation", PIRA News, Vol. 16, # 1, Fall 2001, p. 5.
  • James Wimshurst, "The Form of Influence-Machine", Proc. Phys. Soc. London, Vol. 12, 1892, p. 403.
  • Paul Noel, "Wimshurst Instruction Manuel", AAPT Summer Meeting 2019.
  • Prof. Robert Griffith, "A Simple Electric Machine", Boys' Useful Pastimes, p. 306.

Video Credit: Daniel Reinart.

5A50.10 - Battery Powered Wimshurst