RE: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)

[Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2004 17:38:13 -0700
From: Erik Von Halle <erikvonhalle@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: Erik_Von_Halle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)



Why cut the hole at all?

 

The purpose of the hole is to have a way for the belts and brushes to get to the INSIDE of the sphere. This is the
TRADITIONAL design. The static charge migrates to the outside of the sphere. Charge is very much a surface effect.
The current in electric lines goes down the outside of the wires. Not really on the inside. This is just because
the electrons repel each other.

A DIFFERENT DESIGN.

The electric charge can just as easily be transferend to the sphere from the outside. This then introduces a
different problem. How to hold the sphere in place next to the brushes and charge it up?

Erik

 


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