5B10.23 - Van de Graaff - Aluminum Foil Rockets

The way that works best with our apparatus is to turn on an ungrounded Van de Graaff, bring the aluminum foil about 2 ft. from the dome and let go.  The aluminum foil rocket should travel toward the dome and fly about the bottom portion of the dome much like a hummingbird.
The traditional way to do this is to position a grounded point about 2 ft. from the Van de Graaff dome.  The rocket would then remain in the region between the dome and the point.
Code Number:
5B10.23
Demo Title:
Van de Graaff - Aluminum Foil Rockets
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Electrostatics
Area of Study:
Electricity & Magnetism
Equipment:
Van de Graaff Generator, Aluminum Foil Rockets.
Procedure:

The way that works best with our apparatus is to turn on an ungrounded Van de Graaff, bring the aluminum foil about 2 ft. from the dome and let go.  The aluminum foil rocket should travel toward the dome and fly about the bottom portion of the dome much like a hummingbird.

The traditional way to do this is to position a grounded point about 2 ft. from the Van de Graaff dome.  The rocket would then remain in the region between the dome and the point.

References:
  • Robert Liefeld and Scott Spray, "Levitating Spinners", TPT, Vol. 21, # 9, Dec. 1983, p. 592.
  • R. D. Redin, "Demonstration of Dipole Lines of Force", AJP, Vol. 45, # 8, Aug. 1977, p. 772. 
  • Homemade Lightening,  "Miscellaneous Experiments: The Levitating Rocket",  R. A. Ford. p. 160.


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