Van de Graaff Apparatus

Mostly seen in science based museums that makes a person’s hair stand

on the end is a popular device or apparatus; however, some people only know

it by that description and as a big spherical ball attached on a pedestal. The

apparatus consists of rollers, metal brush, belt, motor, and spherical ball. But

how does it work? It creates a static electricity through the belt inside the

device which runs on two rollers both made of different materials. The lower

roller is made up of a material that will lose electrons once it touches another

material, the upper roller is a neutral one while the belt is made up of an

insulating material. When the motor of the apparatus is turned on, the lower

roller begins turning the belt which builds up a positive charge and a negative

charge on the belt. Electrons from the lower roller are captured by the belt. A

positive charge is then captured by the roller and the belt gains a negative

charge. Then the metal teeth of the brush which is attached on the inside

surface of the metal container transfers electrons from the belt to the outside

surface since the metal teeth of the brush is a good conductor. Once it goes

on the outside surface, which is the sphere, it will now create a voltage. As

soon as it made contact, the electrons will transfer to the individual touching

it and making his/her hair stand.