What I particularly like about the Van de Graaff (or VDG) is that it’s a combination of a few discrete scientific principles and some mechanically produced current, making it an interesting study. For ...

Static charge builds up on the Van de Graaff generator dome. Many different individual demos can be done with it. The Van de Graaff can be used to charge up the hair of a Barbie doll or person. When ...

A Van de Graaff can make the flame of the candle flicker. It does this by generating an “electric wind.” A Van de Graaff is a metal ball set on top of a rotating loop of belt. At the bottom of the ...

The Van de Graaff generator, named for its inventor, Alabama native Robert J. Van de Graaff, is a staple at science museums and science fairs for its ability to demonstrate static electricity and make ...

Static electricity often just seems like an everyday annoyance when a wool sweater crackles as you pull it off, or when a doorknob delivers an unexpected zap. Regardless, the phenomenon is much more ...