RE: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)

[Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:26:00 -0700
From: Terrell Fritz <terrellfone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)

The belt has to be brought into a "shielded zero charge space" so "it"
seems to be at a much higher potential, so the charge can be drained to the
sphere.  That is why the belt is brought "inside" traditionally.

I nice toroid could probably provide the same effect external to the sphere
too...  But I don't have one and cutting the sphere seems easier in my case.

Cheers,

         Terry


At 07:12 PM 1/4/2004, you wrote:
>Original poster: 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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