5A50.30 - Van de Graaff Generator

The 'hair' is prepared by cutting Kleenex or Kaydry towel. The wig may need to be combed.
On several of the charging rods there are holes into which banana plug cords may be inserted. Attach the other end of the banana cord in the fitting on the bottom of the Van de Graff generator. If additional grounding is needed ground to the air pipes in the lecture rooms.
New belts for our Van de Graaff generators may be obtained from Sargent-Welch. Search the Sargent-Welch website for part # WL1913B. These belts should have a flat length of 14 - 1/4 inches flat length, and be 1 - 7/8 inches wide.
The bell chimes and rotating disks will work with either the Van de Graaff or the Wimshurst machine, although the Wimshurst is preferable because it does not make as much noise. See paragraphs 5 and 6 in the procedure section.
Code Number:
5A50.30
Demo Title:
Van de Graaff Generator
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Electrostatics
Area of Study:
Electricity & Magnetism

Disclaimer

Equipment:
Van de Graaff generator, Charging & Discharging Rods, Bell Chimes, Rotating Disk, Lucite Stand for Disk and Chimes, Tin Pie Plates (large and small), Rice Krispies, Cheerios, Popcorn, Styrofoam Peanuts, Styrofoam Cups, Metal Cups, Paper Towel Hair, Wig, Packing Foam, Fluorescent light tube, Pith Balls, Electrostatic Pinwheel, Zeppelin Shaped Conducting Shell, Butterfly Net, Small Hollow Sphere and Half Spheres, Electrophorus Apparatus.
Procedure:

The 'hair' is prepared by cutting Kleenex or Kaydry towel. The wig may need to be combed. 

On several of the charging rods there are holes into which banana plug cords may be inserted. Attach the other end of the banana cord in the fitting on the bottom of the Van de Graff generator. If additional grounding is needed ground to the air pipes in the lecture rooms. 

New belts for our Van de Graaff generators may be obtained from Sargent-Welch.  Search the Sargent-Welch website for part # WL1913B.  These belts should have a flat length of 14 - 1/4 inches flat length, and be 1 - 7/8 inches wide.

The bell chimes and rotating disks will work with either the Van de Graaff or the Wimshurst machine, although the Wimshurst is preferable because it does not make as much noise. 

Some things to put on a VdG so that they fly off: tin pie plates, Rice Krispies in a cup, popcorn in a cup, Styrofoam peanuts in a metal vs. Styrofoam cup, cheerios. Hide popped popcorn in a Styrofoam cup, pour in un-popped popcorn, turn on VdG and watch the popped popcorn fly out. Have the students hold Styrofoam peanuts in their closed hand and touch the VDG.  Turn the VDG on and when they are charged have them open their hand and see the peanuts float away.

The Fun Fly Sticks are nothing more that miniature Van de Graaff generators.  They will have a plus (+) charge at the working end.

References:
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 59, #3, March 2021, p. 216.
  • M. Talmage Fraham and James Young, "Robert Jemison "Tee" Van de Graaff: From Football Fields to Electric Fields",  TPT, Vol. 42, # 8, Nov. 2004, p. 463.
  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 29, # 3, Mar. 1991, p. 190.
  • Richard E. Berg,  "Van de Graaff Generators: Theory, Maintenance, and Belt Fabrication",  TPT, Vol. 28, # 5, p. 281, May 1990.
  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 28, # 2, Feb. 1990, p. 113.
  • Terry Ragsdale, "Police-Made Physics Parts", TPT, Vol. 27, # 5, May 1989, p. 326.
  • H. H. Barschall, "Electrostatic Accelerators", TPT, Vol. 8 , # 6, Sept. 1970, p. 316.
  • J. Morris Blair, "The New Generation of Van de Graaff Machines", TPT, Vol. 4, # 4, April 1966, p. 149.
  • A. W. Simon, "Theory of the Frictional Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator", AJP, Vol. 43, #13, Dec. 1975, p. 1108.
  • Ec-1:  Freier and Anderson,  A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • E-160:  "Van de Graaff Generator",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Back Scatter, "The Birth of Electrostatics", Physics Today, p. 104, Sept. 2006.
  • E. Alfred Burrill, "Van de Graaff, The Man and His Accelerators", Physics Today, Vol. 20, #2, Feb. 1967, p. 49.
  • A. D. Bulman, "A Generator of High Voltage", Model-Making for Physics, p. 130.
  • Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the staff of the Exploratorium, "Electricity & Magnetism", Exploratopia, p. 319.
  • David Kutliroff, "79, The Van de Graaff Generator", 101 Classroom Demonstrations and Experiment For Teaching Physics, p. 174.
  • Borislaw Bilash II, David Maiullo, "Generating Electrostatic 'Phun'", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 246.
  • Julien Clinton Sprott, Physics Demonstrations,  "4.2, Van de Graaff Generator",  p.175, ISBN 0-299-21580-6.
  • Cool Threads: Selections from TAP-L 2006, "Make Your Own VdG Belt", PIRA News, Vol. 20, # 1, p. 4, 2007.
  • Richard E. Berg, "Making Van de Graaff Belts", PIRA Newsletter, Vol. 3, # 10, March 8, 1989, p. 3.
  • R.A. Ford, "Van de Graaff Generators", Homemade Lightning, p. 78 - 90.
  • Simon Quellen Field, "A Simple Homemade Van de Graaff Generator", Gonzo Gizmos, p. 52 - 64.
  • "Largest Van De Graaff Generator", Guinness World Records, 2003, p. 172.
  • Rudolf F. Graf, "How to Charge Your Friends to 10,000 Volts", Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments, p. 36.
  • This Month in Physics History, "Feb. 12, 1935: Patent Granted for Van de Graaff Generator", APS News, Vol. 20, #2, Feb. 2011, p. 2.
Chapter 2: Electromagnetism: A simple Homemade Van de Graaff Generator
VDG as Beam Accelerator
PDF icon Chapter 2: Electromagnetism: A simple Homemade Van de Graaff Generator PDF

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.