Nice experiment Fred! Wrt the weight changes, it behaves qualitatively as expected doesn't it?
Did the discharge hurt a lot? Michel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frederick Sparber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 1:29 PM Subject: [Vo]: Re Van de Graaf Antics >A recently acquired Acculab VIC 10KG digital scale (10,100 grams) > with +/- 1.0 gram resolution and a Science First > model 10-060 (200 KV) Van de Graaff generator which specifies > a "Positively Charged Sphere", with a how it works explanation, > makes for some interesting endeavors. > > Setting the VDG on the scale (sitting on a throw rug on a carpeted floor) > shows a weight of 1509 grams. > When the VDG is running the weight increases to 1512 grams, and when > a ~ 2 ft square aluminum sheet is held flat about 4 inches above the globe > the reading drops to 1490 grams until it sparks through me and goes back up > to 1511 grams. It seems like the whole room is electrified along with > the smell of ozone. > > I had planned set it on the scale with it sitting atop an aluminum foil sheet > laying > on a 3 inch thick Styrofoam plank and using a bank of D batteries > feeding an inverter feeding the scale and VDG > so it can "pump" electrons between the globe and the > foil so that there wouldn't' be any net charge on the setup wrt ground, > and watching for weight change when a grounded sheet of > aluminum foil is held above the globe. However... suggestions??? > > Fred
