Electricity
and Magnetism > Electric Fields and Potential
> Electric Fields
DCS#
5B10.10
ELECTROSTATIC
HAIR-RAISING
APPARATUS
van de Graaff generator
202-18-E-2
insulated stool
202-18-E
meter stick
202-18-E
volunteer
DESCRIPTION
Have the volunteer stand on the
stool and
place a hand
on the dome of the van de Graaff. Turn on the VDG and
watch
as
volunteer
becomes charged and his or her hair stands on end as the
similarly
charged
strands repel each other. Turn the VDG off and discharge
the
volunteer
gradually
using wooden or plastic meter stick.
NOTES
Make sure the stool and the van
de
Graaff
are sufficiently
distant from other metal objects (chalk trays, carts, etc.).
