Van de Graaff Generator

What happened;

During this lab, we had to step on Styrofoam to prevent grounding, where the electrons transfer to the floor. When you step on the ground and touch someone after being charged up, it creates a stronger shock since the electrons have the floor as a target. But, passing static electricity in a chain reaction becomes not effective since electrons take the shortest passage.

We went up to the science lab to test the Van de Graaff Generator, which runs static electricity. Some of us got to touch it and shock other people. Alex went first and touched the Generator, her hair stood up and became like a pom pom. The reason why is because the electrons are repelling each other and spreading the hair apart.

We then put a bag of rice crispy cereal on the generator, with air inside the bag, and all of the rice crispy cereal flew everywhere inside of the bag. This is because the cereal is positive and it’s repelling against the negative charges. When we wave the Generator wand on top of the cereal filled bag, you can control the movement.

 

We also created a chain of people, transferring the electrons through others. When the end or start person shocked themselves the people in between would feel it. When the generator is off, and the chain gets shocked for another time, that shock will be a discharged.

Touching a metallic object, such as the sink, when charged up your body will receive a shock, which can be painful. When you get near the water it bends, because water is neutral (positive), and you are grabbing negative electrons which makes the water bend towards your hand/finger.