How Van de Graaff Generators Work
How Van de Graaff Generators Work
John C. Bean - WeCanFigureThisOut.org
A virtual reality explanation of how Van de Graaf generators work
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Do you know how Van de Graaff generators work? Let's turn it on.
Do you know how Van de Graaff generators work? Let's turn it on.
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Jul 24, 2017
14 sec
Turn it off and the charge stays on the dome.
Turn it off and the charge stays on the dome.
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Jul 24, 2017
3 sec
To understand what is going on, let's look inside.
To understand what is going on, let's look inside.
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Jul 24, 2017
11 sec
There is only a motor, powering a pulley, connected to a belt, almost touched by a copper comb.
There is only a motor, powering a pulley, connected to a belt, almost touched by a copper comb.
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Jul 24, 2017
21 sec
The pulley is made of a special plastic. Let's fade away all but a few (exaggerated) plastic atoms.
The pulley is made of a special plastic. Let's fade away all but a few (exaggerated) plastic atoms.
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Jul 24, 2017
15 sec
The pulley's plastic atoms will transfer electrons to the inside of the belt (it's just "static electricity").
The pulley's plastic atoms will transfer electrons to the inside of the belt (it's just "static electricity").
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Jul 24, 2017
16 sec
The inside of the belt becomes more and more negative.
The inside of the belt becomes more and more negative.
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Jul 24, 2017
16 sec
But now let's go back and figure out what the bottom copper comb does.
But now let's go back and figure out what the bottom copper comb does.
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Jul 24, 2017
9 sec
Electrons jump from the comb trying to reach the increasingly positive pulley.
Electrons jump from the comb trying to reach the increasingly positive pulley.
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Jul 24, 2017
14 sec
But these electrons cannot penetrate the belt and are carried away.
But these electrons cannot penetrate the belt and are carried away.
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Jul 24, 2017
11 sec
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